# CVE-2012-2516: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands via crafted input in the KeyHelp ActiveX control, affecting GE Proficy Historian and related SCADA products.

- **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:** 5 Jul 2012
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x4j8-mmc7-549m

## What is CVE-2012-2516?

CVE-2012-2516 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Jul 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

An ActiveX control in KeyHelp.ocx in KeyWorks KeyHelp Module (aka the HTML Help component), as used in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy Historian 3.1, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5; Proficy HMI/SCADA iFIX 5.0 and 5.1; Proficy Pulse 1.0; Proficy Batch Execution 5.6; SI7 I/O Driver 7.20 through 7.42; and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted input, related to a "command injection vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2516?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Ge Intelligent Platforms Proficy Batch Execution, Ge Intelligent Platforms Proficy Historian, Ge Intelligent Platforms Proficy Hmi\/Scada Ifix, Ge Intelligent Platforms Proficy Pulse, Ge Intelligent Platforms Si7 I\/O Driver.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2516?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-2516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-2516 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2516 exists.

Public exploit code:

- KeyHelp ActiveX LaunchTriPane Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (metasploit)
- KeyHelp - ActiveX LaunchTriPane Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2516 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2516 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Jul 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-2012-2516 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-2012-2516/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2516/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2516
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2516
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2516

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2516/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.