Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2012-1856?

Affected: Commerce Server (Microsoft) versions 2002-sp4, 2007-sp2, 2009, 2009-r2; Host Integration Server (Microsoft) versions 2004-sp1; Office (Microsoft) versions 2003-sp3, 2007-sp2, 2007-sp3, 2010-sp1, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2012-1856 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 25, 2013.

Is CVE-2012-1856 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Mar 3, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Mar 24, 2022.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2012-1856?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2012-1856?

No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

How urgently should CVE-2012-1856 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2012-1856

HighExploitedPublic exploit

Published Aug 14, 2012 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2012-1856 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Commerce Server (Microsoft), Host Integration Server (Microsoft), Office (Microsoft) and 4 more products.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 25, 2013. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 72% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

8.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

72%

Higher than 99.4% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2012-1856 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

The TabStrip ActiveX control in the Common Controls in MSCOMCTL.OCX in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, Office 2003 Web Components SP3, Office 2007 SP2 and SP3, Office 2010 SP1, SQL Server 2000 SP4, SQL Server 2005 SP4, SQL Server 2008 SP2, SP3, R2, R2 SP1, and R2 SP2, Commerce Server 2002 SP4, Commerce Server 2007 SP2, Commerce Server 2009 Gold and R2, Host Integration Server 2004 SP1, Visual FoxPro 8.0 SP1, Visual FoxPro 9.0 SP2, and Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) document or (2) web page that triggers system-state corruption, aka "MSCOMCTL.OCX RCE Vulnerability."

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

Catalog	Added	Remediation due	Ransomware use
CISA KEV	Mar 3, 2022	Mar 24, 2022	Not reported
Industry KEV feed	Sep 25, 2013	Mar 24, 2022	Not reported
CIRCL KEV	Mar 3, 2022	Mar 24, 2022	Not reported
ENISA EUVD	Mar 3, 2022	n/a	Not reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

21 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
Commerce ServerMicrosoft	2002-sp4, 2007-sp2, 2009, 2009-r2	n/a
Host Integration ServerMicrosoft	2004-sp1	n/a
OfficeMicrosoft	2003-sp3, 2007-sp2, 2007-sp3, 2010-sp1	n/a
Office Web ComponentsMicrosoft	2003-sp3	n/a
SQL ServerMicrosoft	2000-sp4, 2005-sp3, 2005-sp4, 2008-r2_sp1, 2008-r2_sp2, 2008-sp2, 2008-sp3	n/a

2 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Timeline

Publicly disclosed
Aug 14, 2012
Added to Industry KEV feed
Sep 25, 2013
Added to CISA KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Mar 3, 2022
Last updated
Apr 22, 2026

References

8 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

The TabStrip ActiveX control in the Common Controls in MSCOMCTL.OCX in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, Office 2003 Web Components SP3, Office 2007 SP2 and SP3, Office 2010 SP1, SQL Server 2000 SP4, SQL Server 2005 SP4, SQL Server 2008 SP2, SP3, R2, R2 SP1, and R2 SP2, Commerce Server 2002 SP4, Commerce Server 2007 SP2, Com…
Affected: Commerce Server (Microsoft) versions 2002-sp4, 2007-sp2, 2009, 2009-r2; Host Integration Server (Microsoft) versions 2004-sp1; Office (Microsoft) versions 2003-sp3, 2007-sp2, 2007-sp3, 2010-sp1, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 25, 2013.
Yes. It was added on Mar 3, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Mar 24, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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