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Microsoft CVE-2012-1854

HIGH
Untrusted Search Path (CWE-426)
2012-07-10 secure@microsoft.com
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V13 - Configuration Search path verification
Impact

CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. CISA has confirmed active exploitation in the wild. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.36%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: Active threat signals + CRITICAL/HIGH severity.
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) No patch listed yet 1.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Untrusted search path vulnerability in VBE6.dll in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA); and Summit Microsoft Visual Basic. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Actively exploited in the wild (cisa kev) and public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-426. Untrusted search path vulnerability in VBE6.dll in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA); and Summit Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .docx file, aka "Visual Basic for Applications Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in July 2012. Affected products include: Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications, Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Sdk.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Added to CISA KEV
Apr 13, 2026 - 18:57 CISA
CVE Published
Jul 10, 2012 - 21:55 cve.org
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Untrusted search path vulnerability in VBE6.dll in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA); and Summit Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications SDK allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .docx file, aka "Visual Basic for Applications Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in July 2012.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score
4.6/10
Composite threat intelligence
EPSS Score
1.4%
Top 20% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV Yes
Public POC Yes
EPSS 1.4%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
Active threat signals + CRITICAL/HIGH severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

110
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +39
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2003:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2007:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2007:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:*:x86:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp1:x64:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp1:x86:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_basic_for_applications:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_basic_for_applications_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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