# CVE-2013-3893: Microsoft Internet Explorer Resource Management Errors

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

- **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 12 Aug 2025 (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:** 18 Sep 2013
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7jff-7vvq-8fxx

## What is CVE-2013-3893?

CVE-2013-3893 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 18 Sep 2013. 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 the SetMouseCapture implementation in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted JavaScript strings, as demonstrated by use of an ms-help: URL that triggers loading of hxds.dll.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-3893?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Internet Explorer.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-3893?

No fix has been published for CVE-2013-3893 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 2 Sep 2025.

## Is CVE-2013-3893 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2013-3893 in the wild since at least 12 Aug 2025.

Public exploit code:

- MS13-080 Microsoft Internet Explorer SetMouseCapture Use-After-Free (metasploit)
- Micorosft Internet Explorer - SetMouseCapture Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 - 'SetMouseCapture ' Use After Free (exploitdb)

## 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-2013-3893 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-3893 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 18 Sep 2013. 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-2013-3893 in the wild since at least 12 Aug 2025.

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-2013-3893/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3893/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-3893
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-3893
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-3893

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3893/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.