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…

published 2010-07-22 16y ago modified 2026-06-16 4mo ago also EUVD-2010-2572

cvss: 7.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Exploited; added 2022-09-15
epss: 89.6%; EPSS 89.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.7%
public exploits: 5; Metasploit and Exploit-DB

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.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

links 3

docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 advisory
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193 advisory
microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx advisory

Is CVE-2010-2568 in your stack? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.

Check with Fencer

Timeline

2010-07-16 First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/windows/browser/ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloader)
2010-07-22 Published
2022-09-15 Added to CISA KEV
2022-10-06 CISA patch deadline
2025-05-01 CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added: 4y ago (2022-09-15)
Patch by: 2022-10-06 (4y ago)
Ransomware: Not known
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product: Microsoft, Windows
CISA name: Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: last yr. (2025-05-01)

Exploit prediction

89.62% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

Exploits and checks

Metasploit exploit/windows/browser/ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloader Microsoft Windows Shell LNK Code Execution metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2010-07-16
Metasploit exploit/windows/smb/ms10_046_shortcut_icon_dllloader Microsoft Windows Shell LNK Code Execution metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2010-07-16
Metasploit post/windows/gather/forensics/fanny_bmp_check FannyBMP or DementiaWheel Detection Registry Check metasploit post, normal rank
EDB-16574 Microsoft Windows - Shell LNK Code Execution (MS10-046) (Metasploit) remote, 2010-09-21
EDB-14403 Microsoft Windows - Automatic .LNK Shortcut File Code Execution local, 2010-07-18
isc.sans.edu http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
securityfocus.com http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41732 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
f-secure.com http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdf referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	9.3	AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

References

docs.microsoft.com /en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046
vendor-advisory, patch
kb.cert.org /vuls/id/940193
third-party-advisory, patch, us-government-resource
microsoft.com /technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx
broken-link, patch, vendor-advisory
isc.sans.edu /diary.html?storyid=9181
exploit, issue-tracking
securityfocus.com /bid/41732
vdb-entry, broken-link, exploit, third-party-advisory
f-secure.com /weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdf
exploit
secunia.com /advisories/40647
third-party-advisory, vendor-advisory
us-cert.gov /cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.html
third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
oval.cisecurity.org /repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564
vdb-entry, signature, broken-link
f-secure.com /weblog/archives/00001986.html
not-applicable
krebsonsecurity.com /2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/
press/media-coverage
isc.sans.edu /diary.html?storyid=9190
issue-tracking
geoffchappell.com /notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htm
third-party-advisory
securitytracker.com /id?1024216
vdb-entry, broken-link, third-party-advisory
cisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2568
government-resource, us-government-resource

Sources

CVE List CVE-2010-2568
NVD CVE-2010-2568

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

json critical feed