CVE-2012-1854: Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
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.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by microsoft, published 2012-07-10).
Weakness: CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path
How it can be exploited
Exploitable with local access with low attack complexity needing no privileges and a user must take an action. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2026-04-13
- US federal deadline
- 2026-04-27
- Ransomware use
- Not known
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: CNNVD-201207-092, EUVD-2012-1864, GHSA-77fm-4w36-vpp3
Exploit Observer has no public exploit code that names this CVE or one of its aliases.
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (5)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2012-1864
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-77fm-4w36-vpp3
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-1854
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-1854
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-201207-092
6 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.209
likely to be attacked soon - VEDAS
- 0.557
some exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2026-04-13
- Detection rule
- Out of scope (local)
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish. The vertical line is the day CISA added it to its exploited list.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Not stated | version n/a | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
How to fix it
CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vendor guidance:
- MS12-046 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_MS)
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/SecurityBulletins/2012/ms12-046 (vendor-advisory)
How to detect it
This bug needs local access to exploit. VEDAS signatures cover remotely exploitable bugs for now, so there is no network rule or remote check for it. Patch it and watch your endpoint telemetry for unusual local activity.
References
Vendor advisories and patches
- MS12-046 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_MS)
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/SecurityBulletins/2012/ms12-046 (vendor-advisory)
Exploits and technical analysis
- TA12-192A (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_CERT)
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-1854 (government-resource)
Other references
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:14950 (vdb-entry, signature, x_refsource_OVAL)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.