# CVE-2012-4777: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges via crafted XAML or .NET applications due to improper permission enforcement in reflection optimization.

- **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:** 14 Nov 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-69xc-62mc-6v46

## What is CVE-2012-4777?

CVE-2012-4777 is a critical vulnerability in Microsoft .Net Framework, published on 14 Nov 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 code-optimization feature in the reflection implementation in Microsoft .NET Framework 4 and 4.5 does not properly enforce object permissions, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a crafted XAML browser application (aka XBAP) or (2) a crafted .NET Framework application, aka "WPF Reflection Optimization Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-4777?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft .Net Framework.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-4777?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-4777 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-4777 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-4777 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft .Net Framework

- [CVE-2020-0646](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-0646/): Microsoft .NET Framework Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-8759](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8759/): Microsoft .NET Framework Remote Code Execution (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1671/): Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-29059](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29059/): Microsoft .NET Framework Information Disclosure (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-4073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4073/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-4777 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-4777 is a critical vulnerability in Microsoft .Net Framework, published on 14 Nov 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-4777 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft .Net Framework. 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-2012-4777/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4777/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-4777
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4777
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-4777

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4777/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.