# CVE-2012-4969: Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2012-4969-microsoft-internet-explorer-use-after-free-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-06-08. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2012-4969 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-06-08

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the CMshtmlEd::Exec function in mshtml.dll within Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted website.

Technologies: [Microsoft Edge](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/edge), [Microsoft Internet Explorer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internet-explorer). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2012-4969 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2012-4969 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 8 June 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2012-4969?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 8 June 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2012-4969?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2012-4969 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2012-4969?** Check whether you run Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9

## Timeline

- 2012-09-17: disclosed: Publicly reported as a zero-day vulnerability.
- 2012-09-01: exploited: Exploited in the wild in September 2012.
- 2022-06-08: kev added: Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

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- [Microsoft Edge use-after-free privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96203-use-after-free-in-microsoft-edge-chromium-based-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Edge heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96199-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-edge-chromium-based)
- [Microsoft Edge heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96198-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-microsoft-edge-chromium-based)