Is CVE-2012-4969 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2012-4969 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on June 8, 2022.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2012-4969?

CVE-2012-4969 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH).

CVE-2012-4969

HIGH · CVSS 8.1CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 80.3%EU EUVD: exploited

Use-after-free vulnerability in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, as exploited in the wild in September 2012.

Key facts

CVSS score: 8.1 (v3.1)
Severity: HIGH
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-416
EPSS score: 80.3% (100th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added June 8, 2022
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2012-4893)
Published: September 18, 2012
NVD last modified: June 16, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on June 8, 2022; federal remediation due June 22, 2022.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2012-4893 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on October 22, 2025.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

microsoft / internet explorer
microsoft / internet explorer
microsoft / internet explorer
microsoft / internet explorer
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows server 2003
microsoft / windows server 2003
microsoft / windows server 2003
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows vista
microsoft / windows vista
microsoft / windows xp
microsoft / windows xp
microsoft / windows xp

References

http://blog.vulnhunt.com/index.php/2012/09/17/ie-execcommand-fuction-use-after-free-vulnerability-0day_en/(Broken Link)
http://dev.metasploit.com/redmine/projects/framework/repository/entry/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_execcommand_uaf.rb(Broken Link)
http://eromang.zataz.com/2012/09/16/zero-day-season-is-really-not-over-yet/(Third Party Advisory)
http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2757760(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/480095(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027538(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
http://www.securityweek.com/new-internet-explorer-zero-day-being-exploited-wild(Third Party Advisory)
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-255A.html(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-262A.html(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-265A.html(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15729(Third Party Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-4969(US Government Resource)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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