Is CVE-2012-5377 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available for CVE-2012-5377, but active exploitation has not been confirmed.

Can CVE-2012-5377 be exploited remotely?

No. CVE-2012-5377 requires local access to exploit.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2012-5377?

CVE-2012-5377 has a CVSS score of 6.0 (MEDIUM).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2012-5377

MEDIUMPOC

CVE-2012-5377

NVD-CWE-OtherPublished: October 11, 2012· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

6.0

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installation functionality in ActivePerl 5.16.1.1601, when installed in the top-level C:\ directory, allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the C:\Perl\Site\bin directory, which is added to the PATH system environment variable, as demonstrated by a Trojan horse wlbsctrl.dll file used by the "IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules" system service in Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8 Release Preview.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2012-5377 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

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

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2012-5377. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.