CVE-2012-4186

CVE-2012-4186 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 15% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 15% (96th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Mozilla Firefox
• Published: 2012-10-10
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the nsWaveReader::DecodeAudioData function in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-4186?

Heap-based buffer overflow in the nsWaveReader::DecodeAudioData function in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.

How severe is CVE-2012-4186?

CVE-2012-4186 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2012-4186 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-4186?

CVE-2012-4186 primarily affects Mozilla Firefox. In total, 22 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-4186?

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-2012-4186 published?

CVE-2012-4186 was published on 2012-10-10 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00010.html
• http://osvdb.org/86117
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1351.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50856
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50892
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50904
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50935
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50936
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50984
• http://secunia.com/advisories/51181
• http://secunia.com/advisories/55318
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2565
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2569
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2572
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2012:163
• http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2012/mfsa2012-86.html
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1611-1
• https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=785967
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/79163
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16193

Affected products (22)

• cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:seamonkey:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:10:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_sdk:10:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:10:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:vmware:*:*

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