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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →CVE-2024-43496 was a real remote-code-execution (RCE) vulnerability in Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft fixed it in Edge Stable 129.0.2792.52 on September 19, 2024. NIST lists Edge versions before that release as affected. If your Edge installation is still below the threshold, update it; for a device in use today, install the latest supported release rather than stopping at the historical fix. The available authoritative records do not confirm that this vulnerability was exploited in the wild.
What CVE-2024-43496 was
CVE-2024-43496 is a Microsoft Edge Chromium vulnerability classified as remote code execution. NIST’s record associates it with CWE-787, an out-of-bounds write—a software weakness in which a program writes beyond the bounds of a memory buffer. The public records cited here do not establish the exact Edge component, trigger, exploit chain, or payload, so more specific technical descriptions would be speculation.
“Remote” describes the potential origin of an attack; it does not mean an attacker could necessarily compromise an unattended browser without any action from its user. Both published CVSS interpretations require user interaction. In practical terms, a browser flaw of this class may be reached through attacker-controlled content, but the available records do not detail the specific trigger for this CVE. NIST’s CVE record, MITRE’s CVE record, and Microsoft’s advisory identify the vulnerability and its classification.
How severe was it?
The ratings differ because NIST and Microsoft assessed the potential impact differently. A CVSS score is a severity model, not evidence that an attack occurred or a guarantee of what a successful exploit would do on a particular device.
#1 Best Overall
| Assessment | Score and severity | Impact interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| NIST NVD | 8.8, High | Network attack, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required; high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. |
| Microsoft CNA | 6.5, Medium | Network attack, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required; high confidentiality impact, with no integrity or availability impact in Microsoft’s published vector. |
Neither cited score is Critical. The scores also do not mean that exploitation automatically grants administrator or SYSTEM privileges, and they do not establish active exploitation. NVD publishes both assessments and their vectors.
Which Edge versions were affected?
NIST lists Chromium-based Microsoft Edge versions before 129.0.2792.52 as affected. Microsoft released the fix in the Stable Channel in version 129.0.2792.52 on September 19, 2024. That is the historical minimum version associated with this fix, not a recommended version to install now.
The boundary is specific to the cited Chromium-based Edge record. Stable, Extended Stable, preview channels, Android, and iOS can have different release schedules or versioning; do not assume the Windows Stable boundary maps identically to every platform or channel. Check the applicable release information for your deployment in Microsoft Edge security release notes.
How to check and update Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more (…).
- Choose Help and feedback, then About Microsoft Edge. If the menu labels differ, search Edge settings for “About Microsoft Edge.”
- Let Edge check for and install available updates.
- If prompted, select Restart or relaunch the browser to complete the update.
- Confirm the version shown on the About page. For the historical CVE fix, it must be at least 129.0.2792.52; for current protection, make sure the installation is receiving supported security updates.
As of August 2026, Microsoft’s release notes list Stable releases in the 150.x series during July 2026. A properly updated, supported installation should therefore be far beyond the 2024 fix threshold, but the displayed installed version—not the version available in a release note—is what to verify on the device. Microsoft’s Edge support page provides general update help.
What organizations should do
- Inventory Edge versions across managed endpoints and identify installations below 129.0.2792.52. Treat those as overdue for remediation; deploy the latest supported Edge release, not merely the old minimum fix.
- Trigger or allow browser updates through the organization’s normal software-management workflow, then verify installation in endpoint inventory or an approved management system such as Intune or Configuration Manager.
- Recheck devices that are offline, infrequently used, kiosk-locked, subject to update rings, running nonstandard images, or unable to reach Microsoft update services.
- Reconcile discrepancies between management inventory and the version shown by the installed browser; confirm the executable and device state rather than assuming one report is conclusive.
- Use extension controls, download restrictions, web filtering, isolation, and endpoint monitoring as defense-in-depth. These measures do not replace installing the browser fix.
If investigating historical exposure, review relevant endpoint alerts, suspicious browser crashes, unexpected child processes, and downloads around the period in question. Such events may warrant investigation, but none alone proves exploitation of CVE-2024-43496.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was CVE-2024-43496 a zero-day or actively exploited?
The records establish that the vulnerability was real and that Microsoft shipped a fix. The authoritative sources cited here do not confirm exploitation in the wild, public exploit code, a named threat actor, a malware family, or affected victims. Microsoft’s Edge release notes explicitly mark some other vulnerabilities as exploited; they do not make that claim for CVE-2024-43496. Calling this CVE an actively exploited zero-day is therefore not supported by these records. See Microsoft’s release notes and the Microsoft advisory.
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If Edge will not update
- Restart Edge and try the About page again; if that fails, restart Windows and check once more.
- Confirm the device has network access to Microsoft update services and check whether organizational policies defer or block Edge updates.
- Check whether endpoint security software or application-control rules are preventing the updater from running.
- On a managed device, ask the IT administrator to deploy the current supported Edge package through the approved software-distribution system.
- If the device cannot be updated, temporarily restrict Edge use and use an approved, patched browser as an interim measure. Do not treat that substitution as permanent remediation.
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