# CVE-2010-1885: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands by bypassing the trusted documents whitelist via a crafted hcp:// URL in Windows Help Center.

- **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 Jun 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3qv5-55f8-3w6h

## What is CVE-2010-1885?

CVE-2010-1885 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, published on 14 Jun 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

The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 does not properly handle malformed escape sequences, which allows remote attackers to bypass the trusted documents whitelist (fromHCP option) and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted hcp:// URL, aka "Help Center URL Validation Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-1885?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Xp.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-1885?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-1885 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2010-1885 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-1885 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Help Center XSS and Command Execution (metasploit)
- Microsoft Windows Help Centre Handles - Malformed Escape Sequences Incorrectly (MS03-044) (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Help Center - Cross-Site Scripting / Command Execution (MS10-042) (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server

- [CVE-2008-0015](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-0015/): Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1701](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1701/): Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-5065](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-5065/): Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2011-1268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1268/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-1868](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1868/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-1885 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-1885 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, published on 14 Jun 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-2010-1885 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. 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-2010-1885/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-1885/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-1885
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-1885
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-1885

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-1885/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.