Microsoft XML Core Services 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 accesses uninitialized memory locations, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitr…

published 2012-06-13 14 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2012-1899

cvss: 8.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Exploited; added 2022-06-08
epss: 83.5%; EPSS 83.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.6%
public exploits: 2; Metasploit, Exploit-DB

Microsoft XML Core Services 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 accesses uninitialized memory locations, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

links 1

docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-043 advisory

Timeline

2012-06-12 First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/windows/browser/msxml_get_definition_code_exec)
2012-06-13 Published
2022-06-08 Added to CISA KEV
2022-06-22 CISA patch deadline
2025-02-04 CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added: 4 y ago (2022-06-08)
Patch by: 2022-06-22 (4 y ago)
Ransomware: Not known
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product: Microsoft, XML Core Services
CISA name: Microsoft XML Core Services Memory Corruption Vulnerability

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 21 mo ago (2025-02-04)

Exploit prediction

83.52% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

Exploits and checks

Metasploit exploit/windows/browser/msxml_get_definition_code_exec MS12-043 Microsoft XML Core Services MSXML Uninitialized Memory Corruption metasploit exploit, good rank, 2012-06-12
EDB-19186 Microsoft XML Core Services - MSXML Uninitialized Memory Corruption (MS12-043) (Metasploit) remote, 2012-06-16

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	8.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	9.3	AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Classification

Weakness

CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write

References

docs.microsoft.com /en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-043
vendor-advisory, patch
technet.microsoft.com /security/advisory/2719615
vendor-advisory
us-cert.gov /cas/techalerts/TA12-192A.html
third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
oval.cisecurity.org /repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15195
vdb-entry, signature, broken-link
us-cert.gov /cas/techalerts/TA12-174A.html
third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
cisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-1889
government-resource, us-government-resource

Sources

CVE List CVE-2012-1889
NVD CVE-2012-1889

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary