How severe is CVE-2004-0985?

CVE-2004-0985 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2004-0985 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 20% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2004-0985?

CVE-2004-0985 affects Microsoft Ie. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2004-0985?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2004-0985 published?

CVE-2004-0985 was published on 2004-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2004-0985

CVE-2004-0985 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Ie with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 20% places it in the 97th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 10.0)
EPSS exploit prediction: 20% (97th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Microsoft Ie
Published: 2004-12-31
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Internet Explorer 6.x on Windows XP SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated using a document with a draggable file type such as .xml, .doc, .py, .cdf, .css, .pdf, or .ppt, and using ADODB.Connection and ADODB.recordset to write to a .hta file that is interpreted in the Local Zone by HTML Help.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2004-0985?: Internet Explorer 6.x on Windows XP SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated using a document with a draggable file type such as .xml, .doc, .py, .cdf, .css, .pdf, or .ppt, and using ADODB.Connection and ADODB.recordset to write to a .hta file that is interpreted in the Local Zone by HTML Help.
How severe is CVE-2004-0985?: CVE-2004-0985 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 10.0, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2004-0985 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 20% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2004-0985?: CVE-2004-0985 affects Microsoft Ie. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2004-0985?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2004-0985 published?: CVE-2004-0985 was published on 2004-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:ie:6.0:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

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