# CVE-2010-0266: Code injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by sending crafted emails with specific attachment properties, requiring user interaction to open the message.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **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:** 14 Jul 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6wgv-wjfv-42f8

## What is CVE-2010-0266?

CVE-2010-0266 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook, published on 14 Jul 2010. 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

Microsoft Office Outlook 2002 SP3, 2003 SP3, and 2007 SP1 and SP2 does not properly verify e-mail attachments with a PR_ATTACH_METHOD property value of ATTACH_BY_REFERENCE, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted message, aka "Microsoft Outlook SMB Attachment Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-0266?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Outlook.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-0266?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-0266 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2010-0266 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-0266 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Outlook ATTACH_BY_REF_ONLY File Execution (metasploit)
- Outlook ATTACH_BY_REF_RESOLVE File Execution (metasploit)
- Microsoft Outlook - 'ATTACH_BY_REF_RESOLVE' File Execution (MS10-045) (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Outlook - 'ATTACH_BY_REF_ONLY' File Execution (MS10-045) (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook

- [CVE-2017-11774](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11774/): Microsoft Office Outlook Security Feature Bypass (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2001-0538](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0538/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-3870](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3870/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2010-2728](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-2728/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2003-1378](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1378/): Code injection in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-0266 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-0266 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Outlook, published on 14 Jul 2010. 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-2010-0266 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Outlook. 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-2010-0266/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0266/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-0266
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-0266
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-0266

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0266/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.