CVE-2010-0249 Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer, as exploited during Operation Aurora.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 20 May 2026
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2010-0249?
CVE-2010-0249 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 15 Jan 2010. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-0249?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Microsoft Internet Explorer.
How do I fix CVE-2010-0249?
No fix has been published for CVE-2010-0249 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 Jun 2026.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2010-0249 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2010-0249 in the wild since at least 20 May 2026.
Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module and 2 Exploit-DB entries.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer
- CVE-2014-1776 Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption
- CVE-2021-27085 Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution
- CVE-2017-0222 Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution
- CVE-2017-0210 Microsoft Internet Explorer Privilege Escalation
- CVE-2017-0149 Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption
Sources
Also known as GHSA-x2mp-6fmq-52qw.