Microsoft has announced that starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, the outdated JScript engine has been replaced by the newer and more secure JScript9Legacy.
This change is aimed at improving security and performance. JScript9Legacy offers enhanced protection against common web-based threats like cross-site scripting (XSS) and is designed to handle scripting tasks more efficiently.
“To provide a more secure experience, beginning with Windows 11, version 24H2, JScript9Legacy is enabled by default to handle all scripting processes and operations that previously used JScript,” said Microsoft’s Naveen Shankar.
Originally introduced in 1996, JScript (jscript.dll) was Microsoft’s version of ECMAScript and was widely used in Internet Explorer and Windows for automating tasks, validating forms, and scripting administrative functions. Over time, it became outdated, lacking compliance with modern JavaScript security standards. Its vulnerabilities made it a frequent target for memory corruption, code execution, and XSS attacks through malicious documents, emails, and websites. Despite these risks, it remained the default to maintain compatibility with legacy systems.
Now that Internet Explorer is deprecated and Edge has gained widespread use, Microsoft is retiring JScript in favor of JScript9Legacy (jscript9legacy.dll) starting with Windows 11 24H2.
JScript9Legacy is a modernized version of the JScript9 engine, capable of running outside the browser and supporting legacy scripting with improved security and compatibility.
Users do not need to take any action for the update, and existing scripts are expected to function as usual. If any compatibility issues occur, Microsoft provides an option to revert to the older engine by contacting support.
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