CVE-2012-0002 is a vulnerability that affects Microsoft's implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in Windows. The flaw allows an attacker to remotely execute code on a vulnerable system without authentication, simply by sending a specially crafted sequence of packets to the RDP service. This type of attack is known as a "wormable" exploit because it can spread from one vulnerable system to another without any user interaction.
The vulnerability was discovered by security researchers at the UK-based company NCC Group in May 2011 and reported to Microsoft. Microsoft released a patch for the vulnerability in March 2012, after several months of testing and development. However, by that time, the vulnerability had already been publicly disclosed and was being actively exploited by attackers in the wild. In fact, some security researchers estimated that there were already over 1 million compromised systems by the time the patch was released.
The widespread impact of CVE-2012-0002 highlights the importance of prompt and effective patching in response to vulnerabilities. It also underscores the need for proactive vulnerability management, including regular vulnerability scanning and testing, to identify and mitigate potential weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers.