CVE-2012-0151: Microsoft Windows Authenticode Signature Verification Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Name

Microsoft Windows Authenticode Signature Verification Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Vendor

Microsoft

Product

Windows

Added to the catalog

2022-06-08

Due date for US federal agencies

2022-06-22

Weaknesses

CWE-20

Catalog version

2026.10.30

The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows (WinVerifyTrust) does not properly validate the digest of a signed portable executable (PE) file, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute code.

Required action (CISA)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Ransomware use: CISA does not mark known use of this vulnerability in ransomware campaigns.

Links in CISA's notes

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0151

Read on 2026-11-02T23:39:54.475Z under licence cisa-kev-cc0@b0067899 from https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json

NVD analysis

Status

Analyzed

Published

2012-04-10T21:55:01.597

Last modified

2026-06-16T23:36:47.550

Weaknesses

CWE-20

The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview does not properly validate the digest of a signed portable executable (PE) file, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a modified file with additional content, aka "WinVerifyTrust Signature Validation Vulnerability."

References

• http://osvdb.org/81135 (Broken Link)
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48581 (Broken Link)
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026906 (Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-101A.html (Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-024 (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15594 (Broken Link)
• http://osvdb.org/81135 (Broken Link)
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48581 (Broken Link)
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026906 (Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-101A.html (Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-024 (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15594 (Broken Link)
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-0151 (US Government Resource)

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

Read on 2026-11-02T23:41:28.906Z under licence nvd-api-terms-of-use@ff2a5288 from https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?cveId=CVE-2012-0151

CVE record

Assigner

microsoft

State

PUBLISHED

Published

2012-04-10T21:00:00.000Z

Updated

2025-10-22T00:05:48.035Z

Problem types

n/a

The Authenticode Signature Verification function in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview does not properly validate the digest of a signed portable executable (PE) file, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a modified file with additional content, aka "WinVerifyTrust Signature Validation Vulnerability."

References

• 1026906
• 81135
• TA12-101A
• 48581
• MS12-024
• oval:org.mitre.oval:def:15594

Read on 2026-11-03T00:23:57.382Z under licence cve-terms-of-use@81bfa2f3 from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2012/0xxx/CVE-2012-0151.json

Defensive techniques (MITRE D3FEND)

D3FEND maps these defensive techniques to the weakness (CWE) that NVD lists for this CVE, through the digital artifacts the weakness affects. D3FEND does not say they stop this vulnerability.

MITRE D3FEND™ knowledge graph. © 2025 The MITRE Corporation.
"The MITRE Corporation (MITRE) hereby grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use D3FEND for research, development, and commercial purposes. Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy." Terms: https://d3fend.mitre.org/tou/