CVE-2024-38178
Microsoft Windows Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows
Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Ransomware groups exploiting CVE-2024-38178
Tengu is a RaaS operation first observed in October 2025, following a double-extortion model and using Living Off The Land Binaries (LOLBins) to blend malicious activity with normal admin traffic, primarily targeting consumer goods, real estate, automotive, he
Exploitation is attributed to these groups across their recorded activity. It does not follow that every organisation they listed was reached through CVE-2024-38178 — the source data does not record an entry point per incident.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 13 August 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 3 September 2024.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 41.4%, which is higher than 98.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Recent listings by these groups
Disclosures from the groups above, newest first.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2024-38178 being exploited by ransomware groups?
Yes. CVE-2024-38178 is recorded as exploited by Tengu. Between them these groups account for 49 victim disclosures in this database.
What does CVE-2024-38178 affect?
CVE-2024-38178 affects Microsoft Windows. Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
How severe is CVE-2024-38178?
CVE-2024-38178 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.5. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 41.4%, higher than 98.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 3 September 2024.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2024-38178?
Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.