CVE-2010-0249
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000...
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
8.8
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
- Record
CVE-2010-0249- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List
8.8
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
- Record
CVE-2010-0249- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2010-0280
8.8
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
- Record
EUVD-2010-0280- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-x2mp-6fmq-52qw
8.8
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000...
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, 7, and 8 on Windows 2000 SP4; Windows XP SP2 and SP3; Windows Server 2003 SP2; Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2; Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2; and Windows 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object, related to incorrectly initialized memory and improper handling of objects in memory, as exploited in the wild in December 2009 and January 2010 during Operation Aurora, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
- Record
GHSA-x2mp-6fmq-52qw- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CISA KEV No score
Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Microsoft Internet Explorer contains an use-after-free vulnerability that could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer associated with a deleted object. The impacted product could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.
- Record
CVE-2010-0249- Weakness
- CWE-416
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | MS10-002 Microsoft Internet Explorer "Aurora" Memory Corruption | 2010-01-14 |
| Exploit-DB | Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 - 'Aurora' Memory Corruption (MS10-002) | 2010-01-17 |
| Exploit-DB | Microsoft Internet Explorer - 'Aurora' Memory Corruption (MS10-002) (Metasploit) | 2010-07-12 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploitation, exploits | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, Metasploit, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2010-0249 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published January 15, 2010. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since May 20, 2026. EUVD reports exploitation since May 20, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 91.9%, the 99th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/979352.mspx
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6835
osvdb.org/61697
securityfocus.com/bid/37815
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/492515
exploit-db.com/exploits/11167
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support.microsoft.com/kb/979352
blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2010/01/14/security-advisory-979352.aspx
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55642
us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-055A.html
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-002
news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10435232-245.html
securitytracker.com/id?1023462
vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0135
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-0249
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-0249
github.com/advisories/GHSA-x2mp-6fmq-52qw