CVE-2010-1885 EXPLOIT
9.3
HIGH · CVSS 2.0 · EPSS 71.2% (pctl 99)
Patch early
A public exploit exists.
Description
The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 does not properly handle malformed escape sequences, which allows remote attackers to bypass the trusted documents whitelist (fromHCP option) and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted hcp:// URL, aka "Help Center URL Validation Vulnerability."
Scoring
| CVSS | 9.3 (HIGH, v2.0) |
|---|---|
| Vector | AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
| EPSS | 71.24% — more likely to be exploited than 99% of all CVEs |
| Weakness | CWE-78 |
| On CISA KEV | no |
| Public exploit | yes |
| Published | 2010-06-15 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-16 |
Affected (3)
| Vendor | Product |
|---|---|
| microsoft | windows 2003 server |
| microsoft | windows server 2003 |
| microsoft | windows xp |
Public exploits
| Source | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| exploit-db | Microsoft Help Center - Cross-Site Scripting / Command Execution (MS10-042) (Metasploit) | 2010-09-20 |
| exploit-db | Microsoft Windows Help Centre Handles - Malformed Escape Sequences Incorrectly (MS03-044) | 2010-06-10 |
References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-06/0197.html
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2010/06/10/windows-help-vulnerability-disclosure.aspx
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2010/06/10/help-and-support-center-vulnerability-full-disclosure-posting.aspx
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40076
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/13808
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/578319
- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2219475.mspx
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511774/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511783/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/40725
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024084
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-194A.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1417
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-042
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/59267
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11733
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-06/0197.html
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/msrc/archive/2010/06/10/windows-help-vulnerability-disclosure.aspx
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2010/06/10/help-and-support-center-vulnerability-full-disclosure-posting.aspx
- http://secunia.com/advisories/40076
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