How severe is CVE-2012-0159?

CVE-2012-0159 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2012-0159 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 27% (98th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-0159?

CVE-2012-0159 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 28 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-0159?

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-2012-0159 published?

CVE-2012-0159 was published on 2012-05-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2012-0159

CVE-2012-0159 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Office with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 27% places it in the 98th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-399.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 27% (98th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-399
Affected product: Microsoft Office
Published: 2012-05-09
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview; Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Silverlight 4 before 4.1.10329; and Silverlight 5 before 5.1.10411 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TrueType font (TTF) file, aka "TrueType Font Parsing Vulnerability."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-0159?: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview; Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3, and 2010 Gold and SP1; Silverlight 4 before 4.1.10329; and Silverlight 5 before 5.1.10411 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TrueType font (TTF) file, aka "TrueType Font Parsing Vulnerability."
How severe is CVE-2012-0159?: CVE-2012-0159 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2012-0159 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 27% (98th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2012-0159?: CVE-2012-0159 primarily affects Microsoft Office. In total, 28 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2012-0159?: 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-2012-0159 published?: CVE-2012-0159 was published on 2012-05-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (28)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2003:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2007:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2007:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:office:2010:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:x64:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:x86:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8:consumer_preview:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.50401.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.50524.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.50826.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.50917.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.51204.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.60129.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.60310.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.60531.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.0.60831.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:4.1.10111.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:5.0.60401.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:5.0.60818.0:rc:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:silverlight:5.0.61118.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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