---
id: "CVE-2012-0151"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2012-0151"]
title: "The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2,\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.87658
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Windows", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows 7", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2003", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2008", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows server 2008", "fixed": [], "affected": "= r2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows vista", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft windows xp", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["patched-systems"]
published_at: "2012-04-10T21:55:01+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2012-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2012-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2,…

Windows Authenticode signature verification (WinVerifyTrust) does not properly check the digest of signed PE files, so a crafted signed executable can pass as validly signed. An attacker who gets a user to open such a file can run code on the machine.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Windows affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows 7 affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2003 affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2008 affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows server 2008 affected = r2 fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows vista affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft windows xp affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2012-0151 per vendor instructions (CISA KEV required action).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2012-0151
- 2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2012-0151
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0151

## From the sources

The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview does not properly validate the digest of a signed portable executable (PE) file, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a modified file with additional content, aka "WinVerifyTrust Signature Validation Vulnerability."

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_