Use After Free in Microsoft Internet Explorer
CVE-2010-3962
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) token sequences and the clip attribute, aka an "invalid flag reference" issue or "Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in November 2010.
Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free
EPSS: 0.969 (99.9th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 8.1 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Affected products
- Microsoft Internet_explorer — versions 6, 7, 8
- Microsoft Windows_7
- Microsoft Windows_server_2003
- Microsoft Windows_server_2008 — versions r2
- Microsoft Windows_vista
- Microsoft Windows_xp
- N/a — versions n/a
Weakness classification (CWE)
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on . CISA KEV inclusion means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; US federal agencies are required to remediate within a published due date.
BOD 22-01 due date: .
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- secure@microsoft.com (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry, Broken Link, x_refsource_BID)
- secure@microsoft.com (US Government Resource, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_CERT, third-party-advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (x_refsource_MS, vendor-advisory, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (US Government Resource, x_refsource_CERT-VN, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (x_refsource_SECUNIA, Broken Link, Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (vdb-entry, Broken Link, x_refsource_VUPEN, Vendor Advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- secure@microsoft.com (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry, x_refsource_SECTRACK, Broken Link)
- secure@microsoft.com (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB)
- secure@microsoft.com (x_refsource_MISC, Not Applicable)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2010-3962?
- CVE-2010-3962 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2010-11-05.
- How severe is CVE-2010-3962?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2010-3962 known to be exploited?
- Yes. CVE-2010-3962 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2025-10-06), indicating it is being actively exploited. 3 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.