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CVE-2012-4792 — Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote…

Key facts

CVE-2012-4792 is a High (8.8) vulnerability: Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2024-07-23), confirming active exploitation in the wild.

Actively exploited — on the CISA KEV catalog

CVE-2012-4792 is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2024-07-23), confirming exploitation in the wild. Federal remediation deadline: 2024-08-13. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules below.
CVE CVE-2012-4792
Severity High (8.8)
CISA KEV Actively exploited (added 2024-07-23)
Detection / prevention —
PoC poc.py
Source 2012/CVE-2012-4792/

Details

English | 한국어

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.

Vulnerability Details

Property Value
CVE ID CVE-2012-4792
CVSS Score 8.8

Proof of Concept

Download

# Download PoC script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fankh/vulnerability-poc/main/2012/CVE-2012-4792/poc.py

Usage

# Run PoC against target
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL>

# With authentication
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL> --username <USER> --password <PASS>

⚠️ Warning: This PoC is for authorized security testing only. It uses detection-only techniques and does not exploit or damage target systems.

Test Lab

This repository includes a Docker-based test environment with both vulnerable and patched applications.

Quick Start

# Clone and navigate to CVE directory
cd CVE-2012-4792

# Start both applications
docker-compose up -d

# Run tests
./run-tests.sh    # Linux/Mac
./run-tests.ps1   # Windows PowerShell

Application Endpoints

Application URL Status
Vulnerable App http://localhost:8080 Shows vulnerability
Patched App http://localhost:8081 Demonstrates fix

Directory Structure

├── README.md           # English documentation
├── README_KO.md        # Korean documentation
├── poc.py              # PoC detection script
├── docker-compose.yml  # Container orchestration
├── run-tests.sh        # Linux/Mac test runner
├── run-tests.ps1       # Windows test runner
├── vulnerable-app/     # Vulnerable version
│   ├── app.py
│   ├── Dockerfile
│   └── requirements.txt
└── patched-app/        # Fixed version
    ├── app.py
    ├── Dockerfile
    └── requirements.txt

References

  • 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://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2012/12/31/microsoft-quot-fix-it-quot-available-for-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.aspx
  • http://eromang.zataz.com/2012/12/29/attack-and-ie-0day-informations-used-against-council-on-foreign-relations/
  • 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://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2794220
  • http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/154201
  • http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-008A.html
  • http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-015A.html
  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008
  • https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_cbutton_uaf.rb
  • https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16361
  • 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://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2012/12/31/microsoft-quot-fix-it-quot-available-for-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.aspx
  • http://eromang.zataz.com/2012/12/29/attack-and-ie-0day-informations-used-against-council-on-foreign-relations/
  • 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://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2794220
  • http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/154201
  • http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-008A.html
  • http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-015A.html
  • https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008
  • https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_cbutton_uaf.rb
  • https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16361
  • https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-4792

Generated by PoC Generator on 2026-07-11T17:28:27.419478877

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-4792?

CVE-2012-4792 is a High (8.8) vulnerability: Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2024-07-23), confirming active exploitation in the wild.

How do I detect CVE-2012-4792?

Run the detection-only PoC included with this entry against your Docker test lab to confirm whether a target is affected; pair it with your own IDS logging.

How do I block or mitigate CVE-2012-4792?

Upgrade to a fixed version per the vendor advisory; the NVD record lists the affected versions. Use the included PoC to verify your remediation.

Is CVE-2012-4792 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2012-4792 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 2024-07-23, which means it has been exploited in the wild. CISA set a federal remediation deadline of 2024-08-13. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules above.

For authorized security testing and research only. See the full source and NVD record.