What is CVE-2012-4969?

CVE-2012-4969 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2012-09-18.

How severe is CVE-2012-4969?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.

Is CVE-2012-4969 known to be exploited?

Yes. CVE-2012-4969 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-06-08), indicating it is being actively exploited. 4 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.

Use After Free in Microsoft Internet Explorer

CVE-2012-4969

Use-after-free vulnerability in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, as exploited in the wild in September 2012.

Vulnerability class: Use-After-Free

Published 2012-09-18 · last modified 2026-06-16.

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.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.802 (99.6th percentile), scored 2026-10-19.

High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 100th percentile — 99.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.817 · newest: 0.802 · change: -0.015

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

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-416 — Use After Free

CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)

This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on 2022-06-08. 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: 2022-06-22.

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-265A.html (US Government Resource, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/480095 (US Government Resource, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:15729 (signature, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-262A.html (US Government Resource, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.securityweek.com/new-internet-explorer-zero-day-being-exploited-wild (Third Party Advisory)
technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2757760 (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-255A.html (US Government Resource, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
blog.vulnhunt.com/index.php/2012/09/17/ie-execcommand-fuction-use-after-free-vu… (Broken Link)
dev.metasploit.com/redmine/projects/framework/repository/entry/modules/exploits… (Broken Link)
www.securitytracker.com/id (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-4969?: CVE-2012-4969 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, classified under Use After Free. CVSS score: 8.1/10. Published 2012-09-18.
How severe is CVE-2012-4969?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.1 out of 10.
Is CVE-2012-4969 known to be exploited?: Yes. CVE-2012-4969 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-06-08), indicating it is being actively exploited. 4 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.