Home/CVE/The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server
CVE

CVE-2010-1885

The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server

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.".

HIGH · CVSS 9.3 EPSS 0.92199
Act now
  • EPSS ≥ 0.50 - high probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
  • EPSS percentile: top 0% of all CVEs by exploitation likelihood
  • Public exploit or PoC is available
  • CVSS base score ≥ 7.0
Sigma rules0 YARA rules0
⬡

Weakness Classification

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
▤

Affected Products & Versions

3
microsoft windows 2003 serverall versions
microsoft windows server 2003all versions
microsoft windows xpall versions
⚠

Public Exploits & PoCs

5
remoteMicrosoft Help Center - Cross-Site Scripting / Command Execution (MS10-042) (Metasploit)verified
remoteMicrosoft Windows Help Centre Handles - Malformed Escape Sequences Incorrectly (MS03-044)verified
pocarchives.neohapsis.com · 0197.htmlarchives.neohapsis.com
pocwww.exploit-db.com · 13808www.exploit-db.com
pocwww.securityfocus.com · 40725www.securityfocus.com
◈

Detection Rules (IDS/IPS)

1
snort-communityEXPLOIT-KIT Blackhole exploit kit JavaScript carat string splitting with hostile applettrojan-activity
Open rulesets (ET Open, Snort Community, abuse.ch) link to source. Commercial rulesets are reference-only.
▣

Scoring & Timeline

9.3
HIGH · CVSS v2 (legacy) · secure@microsoft.com
View on NVD
This CVE predates CVSS v3; the legacy v2 score is shown so triage still has a severity to work with.
v2 Vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Published to NVD15 Jun 2010 · 02:04 PM
🔗

References & Sources

13
Source URLs (vendor pages, mailing lists, write-ups). Exploit/PoC links are in their own section above to avoid duplication.
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.aspxVendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/40076Vendor Advisory
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/578319US Government Resource
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2219475.mspxVendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/511774/100/0/threaded
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