Zero-day vulnerability in Windows

Improper input validation
CVE-2010-1885

The vulnerability was reported to Microsoft on July, 5th by Google security researcher Tavis Ormandy.
The vulnerability was used to compromise Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council via тАЬinform@ffiec.govтАЭ mailbox.

Known malware:

Mal/HcpExpl-A

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2010061002 - Remote code execution when parsing URLs in Microsoft Windows

Vulnerable component: Windows

CVE-ID: CVE-2010-1885

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-20 - Improper input validation

Description:

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to an error when parsing URLs within Microsoft Help and Support Center. A remote attacker can create a specially crafted hcp:// URL, trick the victim into clicking on it and execute arbitrary code on the target system with privileges of the current user.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in compromise of vulnerable system.

Note: this vulnerability is being actively exploited.

Public Exploits:

- Microsoft Windows Help Centre Handles - Malformed Escape Sequences Incorrectly (MS03-044) [Exploit-DB]

- Microsoft Help Center - Cross-Site Scripting / Command Execution (MS10-042) (Metasploit) [Exploit-DB]

External links:

https://www.sans.org/newsletters/newsbites/xii/46
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2219475
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms10-042
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/srd/2010/06/10/help-and-support-center-vulnerability-full-disclo...
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Jun/205
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/10/windows_help_bug/
http://contagiodump.blogspot.com/2010/06/jun-17-win-xp-sp2-sp3-0-day-cve-2010.html
http://journeyintoir.blogspot.com/2010/12/cve-2010-1885-windows-help-center-url.html
https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/06/15/cve-20101885-exploited-wild/
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/attacksignatures/detail.jsp?asid=50268
http://blog.talosintel.com/2010/07/increase-in-attacks-on-cve-2010-1885.html
https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/research/help-center-url-validation-vulnerability-cve-2010-1885-campai...
https://www.edgewave.com/spam-filters/cve-2010-1885-subpoena-threat-and-targeted-attack-against-us-c...

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.