CVE-2013-3893

HIGH KEV

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6-11 - Remote Code Execution via SetMouseCapture Use-After-Free

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2013-3893 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added August 12, 2025. EIP tracks 4 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, SlidingWindow, Unknown, sinn3r, Rich Lundeen, including a Metasploit module exploits/windows/browser/ie_setmousecapture_uaf.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer (CVE-2013-3893) by manipulating the `SetMouseCapture` function to achieve arbitrary code execution. It targets IE 9 on Windows 7 SP1, leveraging Microsoft Office DLLs (2007/2010) for ROP chains.

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.

Exploits (4)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubyremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/28682

This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer (CVE-2013-3893) by manipulating the `SetMouseCapture` function to achieve arbitrary code execution. It targets IE 9 on Windows 7 SP1, leveraging Microsoft Office DLLs (2007/2010) for ROP chains.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 on Windows 7 SP1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage · Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by SlidingWindow · javascriptlocalwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/49872

This is a functional exploit for CVE-2013-3893, a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8. It leverages heap spraying and ROP chains to bypass DEP and ASLR, ultimately achieving remote code execution via a reverse shell payload.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 (version: 8.0.7601.17514) on Windows 7 SP1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage using Internet Explorer 8 · MSVCR71.DLL must be present on the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC NORMAL
by Unknown, sinn3r, Rich Lundeen · rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ie_setmousecapture_uaf.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer (CVE-2013-3893) by manipulating the `SetMouseCapture` function to trigger arbitrary memory release and subsequent code execution. It leverages ROP chains and heap spraying to achieve reliable exploitation on targeted IE versions.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6/7/8/9/10/11
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must visit a malicious webpage · Target must have vulnerable IE version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
patchapalooza STUB
by travelworld · client-side
https://github.com/travelworld/cve_2013_3893_trigger.html

The repository contains a JavaScript file for formatting pre blocks and handling scroll events, which is unrelated to CVE-2013-3893. No exploit code or technical details about the vulnerability are present.

Classification
Stub 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Unknown
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →

References (12)

Core 12
Core References
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_jvndb
http://jvndb.jvn.jp/ja/contents/2013/JVNDB-2013-000093.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_jvn
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN27443259/index.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/62453
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18665
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-288A
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2887505
Exploit x_refsource_misc
http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=Hx1L5gu6

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.8493
EPSS Percentile 99.4%
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 2025-08-12
VulnCheck KEV 2013-09-21
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2013-3825
CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (6)
microsoft/internet_explorer 6
microsoft/internet_explorer 7
microsoft/internet_explorer 8
microsoft/internet_explorer 9
microsoft/internet_explorer 10
microsoft/internet_explorer 11 developer-preview (2 CPE variants)
Published Sep 18, 2013
KEV Added Aug 12, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026