What is CVE-2011-1996?

CVE-2011-1996 is a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Published 2011-10-12.

Is CVE-2011-1996 known to be exploited?

1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer

CVE-2011-1996

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 does not properly handle objects in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a deleted object, aka "Option Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

Published 2011-10-12 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 9.3 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.588 (99.1th percentile), scored 2026-10-19.

High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 99th percentile — 99.1% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.588 · newest: 0.588 · change: 0.000

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

Public proof-of-concept exploits

rapid7/metasploit-framework

References

docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2011/ms11-081 (vendor-advisory, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:12896 (signature, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-1996?: CVE-2011-1996 is a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Published 2011-10-12.
Is CVE-2011-1996 known to be exploited?: 1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.