Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2012-1856 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 3 Mar 2022

Gociux · Microsoft Office · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2012-1856, Microsoft Office MSCOMCTL.OCX Remote Code Execution Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Mar 2022, 3487 days after it was published. It affects Microsoft Office. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What it is

The TabStrip ActiveX control in the Common Controls in MSCOMCTL.OCX in Microsoft Office allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) document or (2) web page that triggers system-state corruption.

What to do

1. Check whether you run it. Look for Office in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited Microsoft CVE at once.
2. Apply the fix. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
3. If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 15 Aug 2012.
4. Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for Microsoft.

Other exploited CVEs in Office

• CVE-2026-124194: Microsoft Office Outlook Missing User Interaction for Potentially Unsafe Action Vulnerability (10 Nov 2026)
• CVE-2009-0238: Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution (14 Apr 2026)
• CVE-2026-21514: Microsoft Office Word Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision Vulnerability (10 Feb 2026)
• CVE-2026-21509: Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability (26 Jan 2026)
• CVE-2009-0556: Microsoft Office PowerPoint Code Injection Vulnerability (7 Jan 2026)
• CVE-2007-0671: Microsoft Office Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (12 Aug 2025)

References

• nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-1856

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in March 2022 · Microsoft scorecard · act-now radar.