# CVE-2012-2174: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code in IBM Lotus Notes by tricking users into clicking a crafted notes:// URL.

- **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:** 20 Jun 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-74f9-jmf7-mh4c

## What is CVE-2012-2174?

CVE-2012-2174 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Ibm Lotus Notes, published on 20 Jun 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

The URL handler in IBM Lotus Notes 8.x before 8.5.3 FP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted notes:// URL.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2174?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Lotus Notes.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2174?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-2174 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-2174 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2174 exists.

Public exploit code:

- IBM Lotus Notes Client URL Handler Command Injection (metasploit)
- IBM Lotus Notes Client URL Handler - Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Ibm Lotus Notes

- [CVE-2010-1608](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-1608/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-3032](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3032/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-2281](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2281/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0480](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0480/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-1213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1213/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2174 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2174 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Ibm Lotus Notes, published on 20 Jun 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-2012-2174 exists.

Affected product: Ibm Lotus Notes. 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-2012-2174/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2174/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2174
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2174
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2174

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2174/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.