CVE-2012-0158 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) ListView, (2) ListView2, (3) TreeView, and (4) TreeView2 ActiveX controls in MSCOMCTL.OCX in the Common Controls in Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Office 2003 Web Components SP3; SQL Server 2000 SP4, 2005 SP4, and 2008 SP2, SP3, and R2; BizTalk Server 2002 SP1; Commerce Server 2002 SP4, 2007 SP2, and 2009 Gold and R2; Visual FoxPro 8.0 SP1 and 9.0 SP2; and Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (a) web site, (b) Office document, or (c) .rtf file that triggers "system state" corruption, as exploited in the wild in April 2012, aka "MSCOMCTL.OCX RCE Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The CVE-2012-0158 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting multiple Microsoft products through the MSCOMCTL.OCX ActiveX control. This vulnerability specifically targets the ListView, ListView2, TreeView, and TreeView2 ActiveX components that are part of the Common Controls library. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation and memory handling within these controls, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate system state through maliciously crafted web content, Office documents, or .rtf files. The flaw was actively exploited in the wild during April 2012, demonstrating its real-world impact and the urgency of addressing such vulnerabilities in enterprise environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user-supplied data within the ActiveX controls, which allows for memory corruption and subsequent arbitrary code execution. When these controls process malformed input from crafted web sites, Office documents, or .rtf files, they fail to properly validate the data structure, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe memory operations in legacy software components. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running various versions of Microsoft Office, SQL Server, BizTalk Server, Commerce Server, Visual FoxPro, and Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime environments, making it particularly widespread across enterprise infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0158 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to gain complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised document. This vulnerability can be exploited through multiple attack vectors including web-based attacks, Office document delivery, and .rtf file manipulation, providing attackers with flexible methods to achieve their objectives. The exploitation typically results in privilege escalation and full system control, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, demonstrating how this vulnerability can be leveraged in comprehensive attack chains.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches, disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, and implementing network-based protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. The vulnerability can be addressed through standard patch management procedures, though many organizations may need to consider legacy system support and compatibility concerns when implementing these fixes. Additional protective measures include user education about avoiding suspicious websites and email attachments, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability. The widespread nature of affected products means that comprehensive vulnerability management across the enterprise is essential to ensure all systems are properly protected against this and similar legacy vulnerabilities.