Microsoft · Internet Explorer
CVE-2012-4969
Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability
What it is
Use-after-free vulnerability in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, as exploited in the wild in September 2012.
CISA: Microsoft Internet Explorer contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted web site.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Deadline for US federal agencies: June 22, 2022
- Added to the CISA list
- June 8, 2022
- Published
- September 18, 2012
- Severity
- High 8.1 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 80% in the top 0.4% of all known vulnerabilities
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (11)
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-265A.html
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/480095
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15729
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-262A.html
- http://www.securityweek.com/new-internet-explorer-zero-day-being-exploited-wild
- http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2757760
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-255A.html
- http://blog.vulnhunt.com/index.php/2012/09/17/ie-execcommand-fuction-use-after-free-vulnerability-0day_en/
- http://dev.metasploit.com/redmine/projects/framework/repository/entry/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_exe…
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027538
- http://eromang.zataz.com/2012/09/16/zero-day-season-is-really-not-over-yet/
More exploited flaws from Microsoft
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2026 | Use-After-Free | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 92% |
| May 20, 2026 | Use-After-Free | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 82% |
| Oct 6, 2025 | Uninitialized Memory Corruption | Internet Explorer | High 8.1 | 97% |
| Aug 12, 2025 | Resource Management Errors | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 88% |
| Jul 23, 2024 | Use-After-Free | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 79% |
| Mar 30, 2023 | Memory Corruption | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 71% |
| May 25, 2022 | Information Disclosure | Internet Explorer | Medium 6.5 | 50% |
| May 25, 2022 | Privilege Escalation | Internet Explorer | High 8.8 | 26% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.