CVE-2010-1885
The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 does not properly handle malformed escape sequences, which allows remote attackers to bypass the trusted documents whitelist…
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 71.1%, higher than 99% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 does not properly handle malformed escape sequences, which allows remote attackers to bypass the trusted documents whitelist (fromHCP option) and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted hcp:// URL, aka "Help Center URL Validation Vulnerability."
- CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 HIGHAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
- EPSS
- 71.15% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 10 June 2010
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-78
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 2003 server · microsoft/windows server 2003 · microsoft/windows xp
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 71.1% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-16545source ↗ | Microsoft Help Center - Cross-Site Scripting / Command Execution (MS10-042) (Metasploit)windows · Metasploit | remote | 20 September 2010 | yes |
| EDB-13808source ↗ | Microsoft Windows Help Centre Handles - Malformed Escape Sequences Incorrectly (MS03-044)windows · Tavis Ormandy | remote | 10 June 2010 | yes |
References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-06/0197.htmlExploit
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2010/06/10/windows-help-vulnerability-disclosure.aspx
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2010/06/10/help-and-support-center-vulnerability-full-disclosure-posting.aspxVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40076Vendor Advisory
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/13808
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/578319US Government Resource
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2219475.mspxVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511774/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511783/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/40725Exploit
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024084
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-194A.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1417Vendor Advisory
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-042
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/59267
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11733
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-06/0197.htmlExploit
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2010/06/10/windows-help-vulnerability-disclosure.aspx
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2010/06/10/help-and-support-center-vulnerability-full-disclosure-posting.aspxVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40076Vendor Advisory
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/13808
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/578319US Government Resource
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2219475.mspxVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511774/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511783/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/40725Exploit
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024084
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-194A.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1417Vendor Advisory
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-042
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.