High 7.8Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published Jul 22, 2010

CVE-2010-2568Windows 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)…

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 05:50 UTC)

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It affects microsoft windows_7 and 4 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

CISA lists it as known exploited since Sep 15, 2022; federal agencies had to remediate by Oct 6, 2022. Treat that date as your deadline.

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Exploited in the last 30 days

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: 7.8 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): Not given
Known exploited: Added to CISA KEV Sep 15, 2022; federal remediation due Oct 6, 2022Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 91.32% (percentile 100)
Assigned by: microsoft
NVD analysis: Analyzed
Record last updated: Oct 22, 2025
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

microsoft windows_7 microsoft:windows_7	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2003 microsoft:windows_server_2003	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2008 microsoft:windows_server_2008	all versions; all versions; r2; r2	NVD
microsoft windows_vista microsoft:windows_vista	all versions; all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_xp microsoft:windows_xp	all versions; all versions	NVD

References

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.htmlthird-party-advisory, x-refsource-cert, us-government-resource
http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181x-refsource-misc, exploit, issue-tracking
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11564vdb-entry, signature, x-refsource-oval, broken-link
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001986.htmlx-refsource-misc, not-applicable
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193third-party-advisory, x-refsource-cert-vn, patch, us-government-resource
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw/x-refsource-misc, press/media-coverage
http://secunia.com/advisories/40647third-party-advisory, x-refsource-secunia, vendor-advisory
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspxx-refsource-confirm, broken-link, patch, vendor-advisory
http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190x-refsource-misc, issue-tracking
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/41732vdb-entry, x-refsource-bid, broken-link, exploit, third-party-advisory
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdfx-refsource-misc, exploit
https://www.geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htmx-refsource-misc, third-party-advisory
http://securitytracker.com/id?1024216vdb-entry, x-refsource-sectrack, broken-link, third-party-advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046vendor-advisory, x-refsource-ms, patch
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2568us-government-resource

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.