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 r
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.
- Published
- Jul 22, 2010
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 91.3% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- —
Sign in to follow · You’ll be notified if a followed record enters KEV, gets an exploit or is updated.
Report tools
Action score
88
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 27 / 30 · 91.3%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Sep 15, 2022. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Oct 6, 2022.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows 7 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7 |
| microsoft | windows server 2003 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2003 |
| microsoft | windows server 2008 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008 |
| microsoft | windows vista | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista |
| microsoft | windows xp | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- microsoft windows server 2003all versions
- microsoft windows server 2008all versions
- microsoft windows server 2008r2
Same product
microsoft: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2019-0708A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Remote Desktop Services formerly known as Terminal Services when an unauthenticated attackerKEV99Now
- CVE-2015-1635HTTP.sys in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 allows remote aKEV99Now
- CVE-2014-6332OleAut32.dll in OLE in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, WKEV93Now
- CVE-2014-6324The Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, WindKEV91Now
- CVE-2011-3402Unspecified vulnerability in the TrueType font parsing engine in win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, KEV88Now
- CVE-2014-4113win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7KEV87Now
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×3
- Exploit-DB entry ×2
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2010-07-18 |
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2010-09-21 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/browser/ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloaderMicrosoft Windows Shell LNK Code Executionexploit | 2010-07-16 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/smb/ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloaderMicrosoft Windows Shell LNK Code Executionexploit | 2010-07-16 |
| Metasploit module | post/windows/gather/forensics/fanny_bmp_checkFannyBMP or DementiaWheel Detection Registry Checkpost | — |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-6 d
- First PoC-4 d
- Published
- CISA KEV+4438 d
- TodaySep 29, 2026+5914 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-secondary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
- isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190
- krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/
- secunia.com/advisories/40647
- securitytracker.com/id?1024216
- www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001986.html
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193
- www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx
- www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.html
- docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564
- www.geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htm
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2568
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.