CVE-2012-4792

HIGH KEV

Microsoft Internet Explorer <9 - Use After Free

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2012-4792 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added July 23, 2024. EIP tracks 5 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, OpenSISE, WizardVan, including a Metasploit module exploits/windows/browser/ie_cbutton_uaf.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8 (CVE-2012-4792) by manipulating a CButton object during page reload, leading to arbitrary code execution. It includes ROP chains for various Windows versions and uses JavaScript obfuscation for evasion.

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.

Exploits (5)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubyremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/23785

This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8 (CVE-2012-4792) by manipulating a CButton object during page reload, leading to arbitrary code execution. It includes ROP chains for various Windows versions and uses JavaScript obfuscation for evasion.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must be using Internet Explorer 8 on a vulnerable Windows OS · JavaScript must be enabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubyremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/23754

This is a Metasploit module exploiting a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer (CVE-2012-4792). It leverages heap spraying and ROP chains to achieve arbitrary code execution on targeted systems.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP SP3, Vista, Server 2003, and 7
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage · Target system must be running a vulnerable version of Internet Explorer
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
github STUB 31 stars
by OpenSISE · cpoc
https://github.com/OpenSISE/CVE_PoC_Collect/tree/master/RCE/internet explorer/CVE-2012-4792

The repository contains only a minimal README with a brief description of CVE-2012-4792 but no actual exploit code or technical details. It appears to be a placeholder or incomplete collection.

Classification
Stub 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Theoretical
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Internet Explorer (versions affected by CVE-2012-4792)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: none specified
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 27, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec STUB
by WizardVan · poc
https://github.com/WizardVan/CVE-2012-4792

The repository contains only a README.md file with minimal information about CVE-2012-4792, mentioning a simple calculator exploitation without providing any actual exploit code or technical details.

Classification
Stub 10%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: unspecified
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC NORMAL
by eromang, mahmud ab rahman, juan vazquez, sinn3r, Peter Vreugdenhil · rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_cbutton_uaf.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 (CVE-2012-4792) by manipulating a CButton object during page reload, leading to arbitrary code execution. It includes ROP chains for various Windows versions and leverages JavaScript to trigger the vulnerability.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage using Internet Explorer 8
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (14)

Core 14
Core References
Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2794220
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-008A.html
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ms
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-008
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert-vn
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/154201
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-015A.html

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.9124
EPSS Percentile 99.7%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2024-07-23
VulnCheck KEV 2012-12-29
InTheWild.io 2020-09-28
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2012-4717
CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (3)
microsoft/internet_explorer 6
microsoft/internet_explorer 7
microsoft/internet_explorer 8
Published Dec 30, 2012
KEV Added Jul 23, 2024
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026