CVE-2013-3918: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-23T21:57:44.469Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

The InformationCardSigninHelper Class ActiveX control in icardie.dll in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) via a crafted web page that is accessed by Internet Explorer, as exploited in the wild in November 2013, aka "InformationCardSigninHelper Vulnerability."

• Context preserved from previous revision: The InformationCardSigninHelper Class ActiveX control in icardie.dll in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) via a crafted web page that is accessed by Internet Explorer, as exploited in the wild in November 2013, aka "InformationCardSigninHelper Vulnerability." 1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2013-3918
• KEV date added: 2025-10-06
• KEV due date: 2025-10-27
• NVD published: 2013-11-12
• NVD modified: 2025-10-22
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-22
• CVSS base score: 8.8
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 2.8
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Network
• Attack complexity: Low
• Privileges required: None
• User interaction: Required
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / windows 7
• microsoft / windows 8
• microsoft / windows 8.1
• microsoft / windows rt
• microsoft / windows rt 8.1
• microsoft / windows server 2003
• microsoft / windows server 2008 (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows server 2008 (versions: sp2)
• microsoft / windows server 2012
• microsoft / windows server 2012 (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows vista
• microsoft / windows xp
• n/a / n/a (versions: n/a)

Weakness Classification

• CWE-119
• CWE-787

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• No public repository matched this CVE query in the current run.

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Windows

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Inventory microsoft / windows 7 assets and confirm exact vulnerable versions with automated checks.
4. Patch in staged environments and validate closure with scanners + service health checks.
5. Map detections to MITRE ATT&CK tactics relevant to your environment and tune alert quality.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-3918
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-3918
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-3918
• http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2013/11/11/activex-control-issue-being-addressed-in-update-tuesday.aspx
• http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability/new-ie-vulnerability-found-in-the-wild-s/240163814/
• http://www.fireeye.com/blog/technical/2013/11/new-ie-zero-day-found-in-watering-hole-attack.html
• http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-317A
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-090
• https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/16985
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A19089
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-3918
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/msrc/blog/2013/11/technical-details-of-the-targeted-attack-using-ie-vulnerability-cve-2013-3918/

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.