Use‑After‑Free in Microsoft Internet Explorer (CVE‑2010‑0249) Enables Remote Code Execution
What It Is – Microsoft Internet Explorer contains a use‑after‑free flaw (CVE‑2010‑0249) that allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code by accessing a pointer tied to a deleted object. The vulnerability is exploitable via a malicious web page and does not require user interaction beyond loading the page.
Exploitability – Publicly disclosed; proof‑of‑concept code exists. CVSS v3.1 base score ≈ 7.8 (High).
Affected Products – All supported and legacy versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer; many of these are already end‑of‑life (EoL) or end‑of‑service (EoS).
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Patch‑Management / Vulnerability Management – The flaw tests whether an organization can continuously identify, prioritize, and remediate known CVEs, a core control objective across NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and other frameworks.
- Evidence of Due Diligence – Demonstrating timely patching or justified de‑commissioning provides defensible audit evidence of a mature security posture.
- Defensible Audit Trail – Capturing remediation steps and verification results creates a traceable record that auditors and enterprise buyers increasingly demand.
Recommended Actions
- Inventory all endpoints still running Internet Explorer and record their version numbers.
- Apply Microsoft’s security update where available; if the browser is EoL/EoS, retire or replace it.
- Add CVE‑2010‑0249 to your vulnerability‑scanning ruleset and verify remediation status.
- Document the remediation workflow and retain evidence (patch logs, screenshots, de‑commission records) in your control repository.
Source: CISA KEV – CVE‑2010‑0249