# CVE-2010-3143: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking when users open specific contact files from a directory containing a malicious DLL.

- **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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Aug 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3xpx-f47r-jph5

## What is CVE-2010-3143?

CVE-2010-3143 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, published on 27 Aug 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Contacts allows local users, and possibly remote attackers, to execute arbitrary code and conduct DLL hijacking attacks via a Trojan horse wab32res.dll that is located in the same folder as a .contact, .group, .p7c, .vcf, or .wab file.  NOTE: the codebase for this product may overlap the codebase for the product referenced in CVE-2010-3147.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-3143?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Windows.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-3143?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-3143 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2010-3143 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-3143 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows 7 - 'wab32res.dll wab.exe' DLL Hijacking (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Address Book 6.00.2900.5512 - 'wab32res.dll' DLL Hijacking (exploitdb)
- Microsoft Windows - Contacts 'wab32res.dll' DLL Hijacking (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows

- [CVE-2015-4716](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4716/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-3139](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3139/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2008-4037](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4037/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2015-4796](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-4796/): Other in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2021-36958](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36958/): Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-3143 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-3143 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, published on 27 Aug 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, 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-2010-3143 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows. 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-2010-3143/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3143/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-3143
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-3143
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-3143

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3143/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.