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April 12, 2017
PC

Disabling VBScript execution in Internet Explorer 11

VBScript is deprecated in Internet Explorer 11, and is not executed for webpages displayed in IE11 mode. However, for backwards compatibility, VBScript execution is currently still permitted for websites rendered in legacy document modes. This was introduced as a temporary solution. Document modes are deprecated in Windows 10 and not supported at all in Microsoft Edge.

To provide a more secure experience, both the Windows 10 Creators Update and Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer-April 11, 2017 introduce an option to block VBScript execution in Internet Explorer for all document modes. Users can configure this behavior per site security zone via registry or via Microsoft Easy fix solution. Enterprise customers can also configure this behavior via Group Policy.

Recommended Actions

As a security best practice, we recommend that Microsoft Internet Explorer users disable VBScript execution for websites in Internet Zone and Restricted Sites Zone. Details on how to configure this behavior can be found in KB4012494.

We also recommend that web developers update any pages that currently rely on VBScript to use JavaScript.

In subsequent Windows releases and future updates, we intend to disable VBScript execution by default in Internet Explorer 11 for websites in the Internet Zone and the Restricted Sites Zone. The settings to enable, disable, or prompt for VBScript execution in Internet Explorer 11 will remain configurable per site security zone, via Registry or via Group Policy, for a limited time. We will post future updates here in advance of changes to default settings for VBScript execution in Internet Explorer 11.

Staying up-to-date

Most customers have automatic updates enabled, and updates will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have automatic updates turned off, will need to check for updates and install them manually.

― Maliha Qureshi, Senior Program Manager