# CVE-2012-2175: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow in an ActiveX control, requiring user interaction to view a malicious email.

- **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-mc56-whq4-j9vh

## What is CVE-2012-2175?

CVE-2012-2175 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, 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

Buffer overflow in the Attachment_Times method in a certain ActiveX control in dwa85W.dll in IBM Lotus iNotes 8.5.x before 8.5.3 FP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long argument.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2175?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Lotus Inotes.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2175?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-2175 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-2175 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2175 exists.

Public exploit code:

- IBM Lotus iNotes dwa85W ActiveX Buffer Overflow (metasploit)
- IBM Lotus iNotes dwa85W - ActiveX Buffer Overflow (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2010-0918](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0918/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-4594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4594/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-0274](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0274/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-0275](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0275/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-0536](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0536/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2175 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2175 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, 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-2012-2175 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-2012-2175/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2175/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2175
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2175
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2175

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2175/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.