HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2012-5378
MEDIUMPOC

CVE-2012-5378

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 ActiveTcl 8.5.12, when installed in the top-level C:\ directory, allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the C:\TD\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-2012-5378 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-2012-5378. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.
User Interaction
Scope
Impact
ConfidentialityC
IntegrityC
AvailabilityC
AV:L/AC:H/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected Vendors & Products

activestate1 product(s)
activetcl
Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

All References (4)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2012-5378
CVSS Score6.0 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedOct 11, 2012

Related CVEs (NVD-CWE-Other)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2012-5378 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.