---
id: "CVE-2012-4969"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2012-4969"]
title: "Use-after-free vulnerability in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.8025
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Internet Explorer", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft internet explorer", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft internet explorer", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 7", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft internet explorer", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 8", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "microsoft internet explorer", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["browser", "exploited", "internet-explorer", "runtime", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-internet-explorer-installed", "patched-systems"]
published_at: "2012-09-18T10:39:14+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-2012-4969", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2012-4969", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4969", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# Use-after-free vulnerability in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through…

Microsoft Internet Explorer has a use-after-free memory bug that lets a remote attacker run code by getting a user to visit a crafted web page. It is listed in CISA's known-exploited catalog, so attacks have been seen in the wild.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Internet Explorer affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft internet explorer affected = 6 fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft internet explorer affected = 7 fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft internet explorer affected = 8 fixed ?
- vendor:microsoft internet explorer affected = 9 fixed ?

## How to check

Check whether Internet Explorer is installed and which version: look at Help > About Internet Explorer or the IE version registry value. unknown for fleet-wide checks in the sources.

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft security updates for Internet Explorer per vendor instructions (CISA required action). Move users off unsupported IE versions where possible.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2012-4969
- 2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2012-4969
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4969

## From the sources

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.

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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_