Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP CHM File memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP and classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component CHM File Handler. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2002-0694. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP (Operating System). It has been rated as very critical. This issue affects an unknown part of the component CHM File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The HTML Help facility in Microsoft Windows 98, 98 Second Edition, Millennium Edition, NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition, Windows 2000, and Windows XP uses the Local Computer Security Zone when opening .chm files from the Temporary Internet Files folder, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via HTML mail that references or inserts a malicious .chm file containing shortcuts that can be executed, aka "Code Execution via Compiled HTML Help File."

The weakness was presented 10/10/2002 as MS02-055 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2002-0694. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/14/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11147 (MS02-055: Unchecked Buffer in Windows Help Facility Could Enable Code Execution (323255)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90167 (Windows Help Facility Remote Code Execution (MS02-055)).

Applying the patch MS02-055 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (10254), Tenable (11147), SecurityFocus (BID 4387†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-1136†). See VDB-19042 for similar entry. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.4

VulDB Base Score: 9.8
VulDB Temp Score: 9.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 11147
Nessus Name: MS02-055: Unchecked Buffer in Windows Help Facility Could Enable Code Execution (323255)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 11147
OpenVAS Name: Unchecked Buffer in Windows Help(Q323255)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS02-055

Timelineinfo

10/02/2002 🔍
10/10/2002 +8 days 🔍
10/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
10/24/2002 +14 days 🔍
07/30/2014 +4297 days 🔍
09/14/2025 +4064 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS02-055
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-0694 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0694
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-19043

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 10254
SecurityFocus: 4387
Vulnerability Center: 1136

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/30/2014 13:02
Updated: 09/14/2025 21:19
Changes: 07/30/2014 13:02 (56), 04/19/2019 08:28 (10), 06/11/2024 20:23 (17), 12/31/2024 01:23 (1), 09/14/2025 21:19 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Interested in the pricing of exploits?

See the underground prices here!