# CVE-2012-0201: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a malicious WorkStation file in IBM Personal Communications.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Mar 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-464w-6g2x-m9qj

## What is CVE-2012-0201?

CVE-2012-0201 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Mar 2012. 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

Stack-based buffer overflow in pcspref.dll in pcsws.exe in IBM Personal Communications 5.9.x before 5.9.8 and 6.0.x before 6.0.4 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long profile string in a WorkStation (aka .ws) file.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-0201?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Personal Communications.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-0201?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-0201 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-0201 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-0201 exists.

Public exploit code:

- IBM Personal Communications iSeries Access WorkStation 5.9 Profile (metasploit)
- IBM Personal Communications I-Series Access Workstation 5.9 - Profile (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2024-25029](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-25029/): IBM Personal Communications code execution (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2025-1095](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-1095/): IBM Personal Communications command execution (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-0321](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0321/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 6.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-0201 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-0201 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Mar 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-0201 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0201/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0201/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-0201
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0201
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-0201

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0201/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.