CVE-2012-4792: Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Yes, if you run Microsoft Internet Explorer. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-07-23, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-08-13; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
• EPSS 78.8%, percentile 99.6: FIRST’s model estimates a 78.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.

What it is

Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site that triggers access to an object that (1) was not properly allocated or (2) is deleted, as demonstrated by a CDwnBindInfo object, and exploited in the wild in December 2012.

CISA’s summary

Microsoft Internet Explorer contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site that triggers access to an object that (1) was not properly allocated or (2) is deleted, as demonstrated by a CDwnBindInfo object.

Weakness type: CWE-416.

Product: Microsoft Internet Explorer · Assigned by: microsoft · Published: 2012-12-30

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
• Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: added 2024-07-23; federal due date 2024-08-13. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
• CISA required action: The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 78.82% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.6.

Timeline

• 2012-12-30 — CVE record published by microsoft
• 2024-07-23 — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
• 2024-08-13 — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
• 2025-10-22 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

1. MS13-008 docs.microsoft.com
2. Listed in CISA KEV notes (learn.microsoft.com) learn.microsoft.com

Vulnerability records

1. CVE.org record CVE-2012-4792 cve.org
2. NVD entry CVE-2012-4792 nvd.nist.gov

Government

1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. TA13-008A us-cert.gov
2. VU#154201 kb.cert.org
3. github.com github.com
4. labs.alienvault.com labs.alienvault.com
5. packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com
6. eromang.zataz.com eromang.zataz.com
7. oval:org.mitre.oval:def:16361 oval.cisecurity.org
8. TA13-015A us-cert.gov
9. blog.fireeye.com blog.fireeye.com
10. blogs.technet.com blogs.technet.com
11. technet.microsoft.com technet.microsoft.com
12. blogs.technet.com blogs.technet.com

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