CVE-2012-1856 in SQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The CVE-2012-1856 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the TabStrip ActiveX control component of Microsoft's MSCOMCTL.OCX library that affects multiple Microsoft products spanning Office suites, SQL Server versions, and various development environments. This vulnerability resides in the Common Controls library that provides user interface elements for Windows applications, specifically targeting the TabStrip control implementation that handles tabbed interface functionality. The flaw enables attackers to execute malicious code remotely when users interact with specially crafted documents or web pages, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently open documents from untrusted sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a memory corruption issue within the TabStrip ActiveX control's handling of system state during document processing. When a malicious document or web page containing crafted data is opened, the control fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflow conditions that corrupt the system state and allow arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. The flaw exists in the ActiveX control's parsing mechanism where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite memory locations and potentially redirect program execution flow to malicious code.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1856 extends across numerous Microsoft product lines and versions, creating widespread exposure for organizations using affected software. Systems running Office 2003 through Office 2010, along with various SQL Server and development environments, all present potential attack vectors for this vulnerability. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious documents through email attachments, web browsing, or file sharing activities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full system compromise, potentially leading to data theft, lateral movement within networks, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access, making it especially dangerous for organizations with less stringent network security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible, and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted ActiveX components. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening suspicious documents or visiting untrusted websites. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates comprehensive security posture reviews, including assessment of legacy system environments that may not receive regular updates. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing security controls such as Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit and Application Control policies to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.