# What is CVE-2012-1856?

> CVE-2012-1856 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) in Commerce Server from Microsoft, published on 15 August 2012. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 72%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2012-1856

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 81 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 8.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 72% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 15 August 2012
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026
- **Main product:** Commerce Server from Microsoft
- **Affected products:** 7

## What is CVE-2012-1856? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official 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."

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: Yes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

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

## Is CVE-2012-1856 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 72%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 72%, 72%, 72%, 72%, 72%, 72%, 72%.

### Timeline

- 15 August 2012: Published
- 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood fell
- 16 June 2026: Record last updated
- 25 August 2026: Exploit likelihood jumped

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2012-1856 scores **81 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2012-1856?

The published record lists 7 products.

- [Commerce Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/commerce_server) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 2002-sp4, 2007-sp2, 2009, 2009-r2
- [SQL Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/sql_server) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 2000-sp4, 2005-sp3, 2005-sp4, 2008-r2_sp1, 2008-r2_sp2, 2008-sp2, 2008-sp3
- [Office](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/office) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 2003-sp3, 2007-sp2, 2007-sp3, 2010-sp1
- [Visual Foxpro](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/visual_foxpro) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 8.0-sp1, 9.0-sp2
- [Host Integration Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/host_integration_server) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 2004-sp1
- [Office Web Components](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/office_web_components) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 2003-sp3
- [Visual Basic](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/visual_basic) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 6.0

## How do I fix CVE-2012-1856?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [docs.microsoft.com](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-060) (Patch, Vendor advisory)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/54948) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [us-cert.gov](http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-227A.html) (Third-party advisory, Government resource)
- [oval.cisecurity.org](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15447) (Broken link)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-1856) (Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2012-1856?

CVE-2012-1856 is a high-severity flaw in Commerce Server from Microsoft, published on 15 August 2012. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2012-1856?

It scores 8.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2012-1856 is 81 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2012-1856 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 72%.

### Which versions does CVE-2012-1856 affect?

For Commerce Server from Microsoft: 2002-sp4, 2007-sp2, 2009, 2009-r2. The record lists 7 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2012-1856?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2012-1856 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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