# CVE-2012-4792: Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a crafted website exploiting a use-after-free flaw in Internet Explorer.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 23 Jul 2024 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Dec 2012
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c5c8-vqpp-hm75

## What is CVE-2012-4792?

CVE-2012-4792 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 30 Dec 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

Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site that triggers access to an object that (1) was not properly allocated or (2) is deleted, as demonstrated by a CDwnBindInfo object, and exploited in the wild in December 2012.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-4792?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Internet Explorer.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-4792?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-4792 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 13 Aug 2024.

## Is CVE-2012-4792 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2012-4792 in the wild since at least 23 Jul 2024.

Public exploit code:

- MS13-008 Microsoft Internet Explorer CButton Object Use-After-Free Vulnerability (metasploit)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer - CDwnBindInfo Object Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer - CButton Object Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- CVE-2012-4792 simple calc exploitation (github_poc): https://github.com/WizardVan/CVE-2012-4792

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer

- [CVE-2014-1776](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1776/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-27085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27085/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0222/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0210](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0210/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0149/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-4792 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-4792 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 30 Dec 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: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2012-4792 in the wild since at least 23 Jul 2024.

Affected product: Microsoft Internet Explorer. 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-2012-4792/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4792/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-4792
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4792
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-4792

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4792/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.