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HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Windows Shell .LNK/.PIF Shortcut Icon Loading Remote Code Execution

IdentifiersCVE-2010-2568CWE-20

CVE-2010-2568 is a code execution vulnerability in Windows Shell affecting Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1/SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2/R2, and Windows 7. The flaw is triggered when Windows Explorer improperly handles specially crafted .LNK or .PIF shortcut files during icon display. By supplying a malicious shortcut that references attacker-controlled code, an attacker can cause Windows to load and execute arbitrary code merely when the shortcut is rendered by Explorer, without requiring the victim to explicitly open the shortcut target. The issue was widely associated with Stuxnet and was demonstrated in the wild in July 2010, including in intrusion chains involving Siemens WinCC SCADA environments.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the security context of the user viewing the malicious shortcut. Because exploitation can occur during icon rendering in Windows Explorer, the vulnerability enables highly reliable initial execution from removable media, network shares, or other attacker-controlled locations with minimal user interaction. In practice, this made the flaw suitable for wormable propagation and covert malware deployment, as demonstrated by Stuxnet. Depending on the victim's privileges and follow-on payloads, attackers can establish persistence, move laterally, manipulate industrial control environments, or fully compromise the affected host.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patching is completed, reduce exposure by disabling the display of shortcut icons or otherwise implementing Microsoft's documented workarounds from the MS10-046 timeframe, restrict or block the use of removable media, and prevent browsing of untrusted network shares from vulnerable hosts. Use application control to block execution of untrusted DLLs and binaries from removable or transient paths, and monitor for suspicious .LNK/.PIF files and anomalous DLL loads initiated by Explorer. Segmentation and strict media-handling controls are particularly important in ICS/SCADA environments.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Microsoft's security update for CVE-2010-2568, released in Security Bulletin MS10-046, on all affected systems. Upgrade unsupported legacy Windows versions where possible, as the vulnerable platforms are obsolete. Validate that shortcut handling behavior has been corrected across endpoints, including systems that browse removable media or network shares. In environments with industrial or legacy dependencies, prioritize patch deployment on operator workstations and engineering stations that may process untrusted shortcut files.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 1 candidate as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.

VALID 0 / 1 TOTALView more in app

All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Microsoft CorporationWindows 7operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2003operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2008operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Vistaoperating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Xpoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

8 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

8 SOURCESView more in app
What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence1

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware4

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity4

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES
MITRE CVE
cve.org · CVE-2010-2568
NVD
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-2568
MITRE CWE · CWE-20
cwe.mitre.org
Patch
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/940193
Patch
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-046
Vendor Advisory
secunia.com/advisories/40647
Third Party Advisory
us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-222A.html
Third Party Advisory
geoffchappell.com/notes/security/stuxnet/ctrlfldr.htm
Exploit
isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9181
Exploit
f-secure.com/weblog/archives/new_rootkit_en.pdf
Press/Media Coverage
krebsonsecurity.com/2010/07/experts-warn-of-new-windows-shortcut-flaw
Issue Tracking
isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9190
+1 more reference
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