Threats / Microsoft / CVE-2010-2568
CVE-2010-2568
· EUVD no mirror located
· GCVE no mirror located
Verified 2026-06-22
Microsoft Windows vulnerability
Microsoft Windows improperly parses shortcut files, allowing arbitrary code execution when the OS displays a malicious shortcut's icon. An attacker can exploit this to run code with user privileges.
Verdict
Today item — known-exploited.
A remote attacker can execute arbitrary code on a Windows system by crafting a malicious shortcut file and triggering icon display. The vulnerability requires user interaction but has been actively exploited in the wild.
01
Is it exploitable?
— the evidence, ranked above the scoreReported exploitation
15 independent public reports of in-the-wild exploitation are cataloged.Distinct reporting sources (vendor, incident response, government); open them for the underlying claims.
Exploited in the wild
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-09-15).
Probability (EPSS)
EPSS 0.91324 — modeled likelihood of exploitation activity.EPSS is a daily-changing model output — open the source for today's value.
Severity / affected
Affected: Microsoft, Windows. Confirm exact fixed builds in the vendor advisory.
Weakness (CWE)
Mapped to CWE-20 Improper Input Validation.CWE assignment from the public NVD record; the weakness class drives how the flaw is exploited.
02
Who’s exploiting it?
— attribution turns risk into urgencyAttribution not established
No confirmed (advisory-backed) threat-actor attribution is established for this record. Absence of a named actor is not absence of compromise — see Coverage & confidence.
03
Why it matters
— the attack path, told twice: adversary, then board1
Front door — unauthenticated access narrative 1
Attacker
I craft a malicious shortcut file with embedded code that executes when Windows attempts to render its icon.
Business
An employee's workstation becomes compromised when Windows Explorer displays the shortcut icon, potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling lateral movement.
2
Keys to the kingdom — privilege/identity takeover narrative 2
Attacker
I distribute the shortcut file via email, removable media, or file sharing to increase the likelihood of icon display.
Business
The organization faces widespread endpoint compromise across multiple users who interact with the malicious file.
3
Lateral reach — past segmentation narrative 3
Attacker
I execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user once the shortcut icon is displayed.
Business
Attackers gain persistent access, steal credentials, deploy ransomware, or establish command-and-control channels within the network.
04
What to do
— defensible action- Remediate per the vendor advisory — confirm the fixed build for your version and verify exposure.1
Say it to the boardA vulnerability with this evidence profile is a defensible budget line, not a backlog ticket — fund the change against the proof above.
05