CVE-2010-2568
Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 6 October 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
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.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 89.62% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 18 July 2010
- CISA KEV
- Listed 15 September 2022 · due 6 October 2022
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows server 2003 · microsoft/windows server 2008 · microsoft/windows vista · microsoft/windows xp
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS moved from 89.6% on 20 October 2026 to 89.6% on 30 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-2568
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.
References
- http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181Exploit, Issue Tracking
- http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190Issue Tracking
- http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/Press/Media Coverage
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40647Vendor Advisory
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1024216Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001986.htmlNot Applicable
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdfExploit
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193Patch, Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspxBroken Link, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41732Broken Link, Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.htmlThird Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564Broken Link
- https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htmThird Party Advisory
- http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181Exploit, Issue Tracking
- http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190Issue Tracking
- http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/Press/Media Coverage
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40647Vendor Advisory
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1024216Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001986.htmlNot Applicable
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdfExploit
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193Patch, Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspxBroken Link, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41732Broken Link, Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.htmlThird Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564Broken Link
- https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htmThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2568US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.