# CVE-2001-0909: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a long hcp: URL in the Windows Help Center, requiring user interaction to trigger the buffer overflow.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Sep 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c64x-2qg4-rpqq

## What is CVE-2001-0909?

CVE-2001-0909 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Xp, published on 1 Sep 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in helpctr.exe program in Microsoft Help Center for Windows XP allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long hcp: URL.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2001-0909?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Windows Xp.

## How do I fix CVE-2001-0909?

No fix has been published for CVE-2001-0909 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2001-0909 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0909 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows XP - HCP URI Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Xp

- [CVE-2012-1852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1852/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2012-1853](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1853/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-0119](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0119/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2007-1946](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-1946/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2005-3595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3595/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2001-0909 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2001-0909 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Xp, published on 1 Sep 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0909 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows Xp. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0909/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0909/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2001-0909
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2001-0909
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2001-0909

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0909/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.