Microsoft Windows up to XP Shell Shortcut Parser input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows 7/Server 2003/Server 2008/Vista/XP. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component Shell Shortcut Parser. Performing a manipulation results in input validation. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2010-2568. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. Applying a patch is the recommended action to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows 7/Server 2003/Server 2008/Vista/XP (Operating System). This affects an unknown code block of the component Shell Shortcut Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1 and SP2, Server 2008 SP2 and R2, and Windows 7 allows local users or remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) .LNK or (2) .PIF shortcut file, which is not properly handled during icon display in Windows Explorer, as demonstrated in the wild in July 2010, and originally reported for malware that leverages CVE-2010-2772 in Siemens WinCC SCADA systems.

The weakness was shared 07/16/2010 as MS10-046 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared at technet.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2010-2568 since 06/30/2010. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/22/2026).

After 2 days, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is shared for download at exploit-db.com. It is declared as attacked. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $100k and more. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 47750 (MS KB2286198: Windows Shell Shortcut Icon Parsing Arbitrary Code Execution), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 1238 (W32.Stuxnet/W32.Temphid Worm Detected). The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 09/15/2022 with a due date of 10/06/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Applying the patch MS10-046 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published 2 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 10030.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (14403), Zero-Day.cz (293), Tenable (47750), SecurityFocus (BID 41732†) and OSVDB (66387†). The entries VDB-4152 and VDB-4151 are related to this item. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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  • end of life (old version)

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.2

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector: 🔍

ADP CISA Base Score: 7.8
ADP CISA Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Attacked
Download: 🔍

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KEV Ransomware: 🔍
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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 47750
Nessus Name: MS KB2286198: Windows Shell Shortcut Icon Parsing Arbitrary Code Execution
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 902226
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Windows Shell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (2286198)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/windows_shell_lnk_control
Saint Name: Windows Shell LNK file CONTROL item command execution

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

MetaSploit ID: ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloader.rb
MetaSploit Name: MS10-026 Microsoft MPEG Layer-3 Audio Stack Based Overflow
MetaSploit File: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍
Zero-Day.cz: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
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Patch: MS10-046
Suricata ID: 2011239
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

06/30/2010 🔍
07/15/2010 +15 days 🔍
07/16/2010 +1 days 🔍
07/17/2010 +1 days 🔍
07/18/2010 +0 days 🔍
07/18/2010 +0 days 🔍
07/18/2010 +0 days 🔍
07/19/2010 +1 days 🔍
07/22/2010 +3 days 🔍
09/02/2010 +42 days 🔍
04/22/2026 +5711 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS10-046
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2010-2568 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2010-2568
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-4149

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
SecurityFocus: 41732
Secunia: 40647 - Microsoft Windows Shell Shortcut Parsing Vulnerability, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 66387
SecurityTracker: 1024216
Vulnerability Center: 26468 - [MS10-046] Microsoft Windows Remote Arbitrary Code Execution via a Crafted LNK File Vulnerability, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20140213
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/19/2010 02:00
Updated: 04/22/2026 07:43
Changes: 07/19/2010 02:00 (63), 08/19/2018 19:46 (42), 03/18/2021 08:02 (2), 03/18/2021 08:04 (7), 03/18/2021 08:09 (1), 04/27/2024 17:09 (24), 06/28/2024 21:18 (12), 07/17/2024 19:33 (2), 09/09/2024 22:30 (1), 01/26/2025 05:53 (1), 02/04/2025 23:22 (11), 04/22/2026 07:43 (11)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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