The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) implementation in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 does not properly process packets in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by sending crafted RDP packets triggering access to an object that (1) was not properly initialized or (2) is deleted, aka "Remote Desktop Protocol Vulnerability."
CVE-2012-0002
This CVE was only ever scored under CVSS v2.0. NVD CVSS v2.0 base 9.3 — v2 rates that HIGH (v2 bands: LOW 0.0–3.9 / MEDIUM 4.0–6.9 / HIGH 7.0–10.0; v2 has no CRITICAL band). Vector AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. CVSS v2 is an older, coarser metric than v3.1/v4.0 (no Scope, no User Interaction, no Attack Requirements), so it is not directly comparable to a v3 or v4 score. NVD has never re-scored this record under v3. EPSS predicts 74.1% exploitation probability in the next 30 days, which is reflected in EG Risk but does not lift the v2 base. Confidence: LOW.
- High exploitation likelihood — EPSS 74%
- Public exploit code is available (Metasploit, Exploit-DB (verified), epss top5pct, epss high, public exploit)
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v2.0 (legacy)
- 9.3HIGHNVD never assigned a CVSS v3 rating to this CVE
- EG Score
- 9.3(low)
- EG Risk
- 76(Track)EG Risk 76/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity93% × 45%Exploitation74% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 74%
- EPSS %ILE
- 99%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
March 13, 2012
Last Modified
April 29, 2026
References (10)
- secure@microsofthttp://blogs.quickheal.com/remote-desktop-protocol-vulnerability-cve-2012-0002-not-dead-yet/
- secure@microsofthttp://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026790
- secure@microsofthttp://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-073A.html
- secure@microsofthttps://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-020
- secure@microsofthttps://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A14623
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://blogs.quickheal.com/remote-desktop-protocol-vulnerability-cve-2012-0002-not-dead-yet/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026790
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-073A.html
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-020
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A14623
Weakness Classification(1)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 7× in last 7d / 17× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-28 15:31 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-26 13:44 UTCEG score recompute▲ 9.30
- 2026-07-23 01:06 UTCEG score recompute▼ 7.20
- 2026-07-23 00:10 UTCEG score recompute▲ 7.20
- 2026-07-22 21:48 UTCEG score recompute▼ 9.00
- 2026-07-22 14:04 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-06-23 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-06-13 22:57 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-06-10 13:18 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 05:10 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-29 05:10 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-05-21 22:39 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(3 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (2 Metasploit modules) (1 Exploit-DB entry). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Exploit-DBEDB-18606✓ verifiedFirst seen Mar 16, 2012
Microsoft Terminal Services - Use-After-Free (MS12-020)
Open source ↗ - Metasploitauxiliary/dos/windows/rdp/ms12_020_maxchannelids✓ verifiedFirst seen Mar 16, 2012
MS12-020 Microsoft Remote Desktop Use-After-Free DoS
Open source ↗ - Metasploitauxiliary/scanner/rdp/ms12_020_check✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 1, 2012
MS12-020 Microsoft Remote Desktop Checker
Open source ↗
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2012-0002?
When was CVE-2012-0002 disclosed?
Is CVE-2012-0002 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2012-0002?
Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2012-0002
Is Your Infrastructure Affected by CVE-2012-0002?
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