HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2012-4218

CRITICAL

CVE-2012-4218

CWE-416Published: November 21, 2012· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

10.0

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in the BuildTextRunsScanner::BreakSink::SetBreaks function in Mozilla Firefox before 17.0, Thunderbird before 17.0, and SeaMonkey before 2.14 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2012-4218 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-416): Use-after-free vulnerabilities involve accessing memory after it has been freed, often enabling arbitrary code execution.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorNetwork

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.

User Interaction

Scope

Impact

ConfidentialityC

IntegrityC

AvailabilityC

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected Vendors & Products

Canonical1 product(s)

ubuntu linux

Mozilla3 product(s)

firefoxseamonkeythunderbird

openSUSE1 product(s)

opensuse

SUSE3 product(s)

linux enterprise desktoplinux enterprise serverlinux enterprise software development kit

Source: NVD CPE · 15 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-11/msg00021.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-01/msg00022.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00090.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00092.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00093.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2012/mfsa2012-105.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/56640

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1636-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-3

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=767765

ADVISORYhttps://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16885

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-11/msg00021.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-01/msg00022.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00090.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00092.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00093.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2012/mfsa2012-105.html

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/56640

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1636-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-1

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-2

ADVISORYhttp://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-3

ADVISORYhttps://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=767765

ADVISORYhttps://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16885

All References (38)

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-11/msg00021.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-01/msg00022.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00090.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00092.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-11/msg00093.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51369Broken Link

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51370Broken Link

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51381Broken Link

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51434Broken Link

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51439Broken Link

→

http://secunia.com/advisories/51440Broken Link

→

http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2012/mfsa2012-105.htmlVendor Advisory

→

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/56640Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1636-1Third Party Advisory

→

http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1638-1Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2012-4218

CVSS Score10.0 / 10

SeverityCRITICAL

WeaknessCWE-416

CISA KEVNo

Affected4 vendor(s)

PublishedNov 21, 2012

Related CVEs (CWE-416)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2012-4218 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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