CVE-2013-3660
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 18 April 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
The EPATHOBJ::pprFlattenRec function in win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 does not properly initialize a pointer for the next object in a certain list, which allows local users to obtain write access to the PATHRECORD chain, and consequently gain privileges, by triggering excessive consumption of paged memory and then making many FlattenPath function calls, aka "Win32k Read AV Vulnerability."
- 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
- 39.32% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 3 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 21 May 2013
- CISA KEV
- Listed 28 March 2022 · due 18 April 2022
- Weakness
- CWE-119
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows 8 · microsoft/windows rt · microsoft/windows server 2003 · microsoft/windows server 2008 · microsoft/windows server 2012 · microsoft/windows vista · microsoft/windows xp
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 39.3% since 30 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.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-3660
Public exploits (3)
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-26554source ↗ | Microsoft Windows - 'EPATHOBJ::pprFlattenRec' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)windows · Metasploit | local | 2 July 2013 | yes |
| EDB-25912source ↗ | Microsoft Windows NT/2000/2003/2008/XP/Vista/7/8 - 'EPATHOBJ' Local Ringwindows · Tavis Ormandy | local | 3 June 2013 | yes |
| EDB-25611source ↗ | Microsoft Windows - Win32k!EPATHOBJ::pprFlattenRec Uninitialized Next Pointer Testcasewindows · Tavis Ormandy | dos | 21 May 2013 | yes |
References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0090.htmlBroken Link
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0094.htmlBroken Link
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-06/0006.htmlBroken Link
- http://secunia.com/advisories/53435Broken Link, Vendor Advisory
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/309157606247768064Exploit
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/335557286657400832Not Applicable
- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9239477Broken Link
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25611/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.osvdb.org/93539Broken Link
- http://www.reddit.com/r/netsec/comments/1eqh66/0day_windows_kernel_epathobj_vulnerability/Exploit, Issue Tracking
- http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/23/4358400/google-engineer-bashes-microsoft-discloses-windows-flawPress/Media Coverage
- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-190AThird Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-053Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A17360Broken Link
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0090.htmlBroken Link
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0094.htmlBroken Link
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-06/0006.htmlBroken Link
- http://secunia.com/advisories/53435Broken Link, Vendor Advisory
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/309157606247768064Exploit
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/335557286657400832Not Applicable
- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9239477Broken Link
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25611/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.osvdb.org/93539Broken Link
- http://www.reddit.com/r/netsec/comments/1eqh66/0day_windows_kernel_epathobj_vulnerability/Exploit, Issue Tracking
- http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/23/4358400/google-engineer-bashes-microsoft-discloses-windows-flawPress/Media Coverage
- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-190AThird Party Advisory, US Government Resource
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-053Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A17360Broken Link
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-3660US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.