CVE-2013-3893
Use-after-free vulnerability in the SetMouseCapture implementation in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted JavaScript strings, as demonstrated by use of an ms-help: URL that triggers loading of hxds.dll.
do firstApply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Can a WAF block it? No. The attack is delivered via crafted JavaScript strings in a web page, which are part of normal HTTP responses and requests. The malicious input looks like normal JavaScript code, so a web application firewall cannot reliably distinguish it from legitimate traffic.
Also consider: patch
Based on an AI reading of the CVE description, and no vendor rule found yet. We check Cloudflare, AWS, Google Cloud Armor and Azure; for Akamai, Imperva, Fastly, F5, ask your vendor.
Is CVE-2013-3893 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2013-3893 appears in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed and reported. Treat it as active rather than theoretical, and patch it ahead of higher-scoring vulnerabilities that carry no exploitation evidence.
How severe is CVE-2013-3893?
CVE-2013-3893 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2013-3893?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2013-3893. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2013-3893 affect?
CVE-2013-3893 affects microsoft:internet_explorer. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
public exploits
Public exploit code: 2 on Exploit-DB · 1 Metasploit module
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 - 'SetMouseCapture ' Use After Free · local · 17 May 2021
- Micorosft Internet Explorer - SetMouseCapture Use-After-Free (Metasploit) · remote · 2 Oct 2013 · verified
- exploit/windows/browser/ie_setmousecapture_uaf · exploit · normal
Listed so you can judge urgency, not as a recommendation to run anything. GitHub “proofs of concept” are unvetted: some are fake or carry malware. Exploit-DB marks the entries its staff verified.
cisa ssvc
- exploitation
- active
- automatable
- no
- technical impact
- total
Assessed by CISA 12 Aug 2025 (SSVC 2.0.3).
timeline
- 18 Sept 2013Published
- 2 Oct 2013First public exploit or proof of concept · 14 days later
- 12 Aug 2025Added to CISA KEV (exploited in the wild) · 4,332 days (about 12 years) later
- 12 Aug 2025CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active · same day later
- 2 Sept 2025CISA remediation due date (US federal agencies) · 21 days later
- 22 Oct 2025CVE record last updated · 50 days later
- 2 Nov 2026Analysed by vulneraibility.com · 377 days (about 1 year) later
- Advisoryjvndb.jvn.jp /ja/contents/2013/JVNDB-2013-000093.html
- Advisoryjvn.jp /en/jp/JVN27443259/index.html
- Advisoryus-cert.gov /ncas/alerts/TA13-288A
- Advisorydocs.microsoft.com /en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-080
- Linkblogs.technet.com /b/srd/archive/2013/10/08/ms13-080-addresses-two-vulnerabilities-under-limited-t
- Linksecurityfocus.com /bid/62453
- Linkoval.cisecurity.org /repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18665
- Linktechnet.microsoft.com /security/advisory/2887505
Show 4 more
- Linkpastebin.com /raw.php?i=Hx1L5gu6
- Linkblogs.technet.com /b/srd/archive/2013/09/17/cve-2013-3893-fix-it-workaround-available.aspx
- Linkpacketstormsecurity.com /files/162585/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-8-SetMouseCapture-Use-After-Free.html
- Linkcisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-3893
sources
- CVE List (CVE.org): description, affected versions, references; CVE Terms of Use
- NVD: CVSS and CPE data
- CISA KEV catalog: exploitation, date added, due date
- CISA Vulnrichment (ADP): SSVC decision points
- FIRST EPSS: exploit probability and percentile
- Exploit-DB: published exploits
- Metasploit Framework: exploit and scanner modules
- Summary, impact and triage tags: written by our AI analysis pipeline from the sources above. Check them against the sources.