Use‑After‑Free in Microsoft Internet Explorer (CVE‑2010‑0806) Enables Remote Code Execution
What It Is — Microsoft Internet Explorer contains a use‑after‑free flaw that allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code by triggering an access to an invalid pointer after an object is deleted. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE‑2010‑0806 and has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.5 (High).
Exploitability — Public proof‑of‑concept code exists; exploitation requires the victim to view a malicious web page or document, making it a realistic remote‑code‑execution vector.
Affected Products — All supported and many end‑of‑life versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer on Windows desktops.
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Patch Management – Demonstrates the need for a documented, continuously‑monitored patch‑management control that can prove timely remediation of known flaws.
- Evidence of Due Diligence – Auditors expect verifiable evidence that legacy browsers are either fully patched or de‑commissioned, a key control objective across SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and others.
- Defensible Audit Trail – Maintaining an immutable log of remediation actions (e.g., patch deployment, endpoint retirement) provides the audit‑ready artifacts buyers now demand.
Recommended Actions
- Run an inventory to identify any endpoints still running Internet Explorer, especially EoL/EoS versions.
- Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft or, where updates are unavailable, disable or uninstall the browser.
- Document the remediation steps in your vulnerability‑management system to create audit‑ready evidence.
- Incorporate continuous monitoring of endpoint software inventories to flag future legacy‑software drift.
Source: CISA KEV – CVE‑2010‑0806