CVE-2012-0016

Microsoft Expression Design - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2012-0016.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2013-0074 (incorrectly referenced as CVE-2012-0016 in the query) in Microsoft Silverlight by leveraging unsafe memory access in the Initialize() method of System.Windows.Browser.ScriptObject, combined with an info leak in WriteableBitmap to bypass DEP/ASLR. It delivers a malicious XAP file to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable IE browsers.

Description

Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft Expression Design; Expression Design SP1; and Expression Design 2, 3, and 4 allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .xpr or .DESIGN file, aka "Expression Design Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability."

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
rubyremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/29858

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2013-0074 (incorrectly referenced as CVE-2012-0016 in the query) in Microsoft Silverlight by leveraging unsafe memory access in the Initialize() method of System.Windows.Browser.ScriptObject, combined with an info leak in WriteableBitmap to bypass DEP/ASLR. It delivers a malicious XAP file to achieve remote code execution on vulnerable IE browsers.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Silverlight (via Internet Explorer 6-10)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage using Internet Explorer 6-10 with Silverlight installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A14973
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-073A.html

Scores

EPSS 0.4402
EPSS Percentile 97.6%

Details

Status published
Products (4)
microsoft/expression_design (2 CPE variants)
microsoft/expression_design 2
microsoft/expression_design 3
microsoft/expression_design 4
Published Mar 13, 2012
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026