# CVE-2010-4398: Microsoft Windows Kernel Stack-Based Buffer Overflow

> Local attackers can exploit a stack-based buffer overflow in the Windows kernel to gain elevated privileges and bypass User Account Control.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 28 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Dec 2010
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v6fx-3qcr-2mfg

## What is CVE-2010-4398?

CVE-2010-4398 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 3 Dec 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the RtlQueryRegistryValues function in win32k.sys in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 and SP2, Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2, and Windows 7 allows local users to gain privileges, and bypass the User Account Control (UAC) feature, via a crafted REG_BINARY value for a SystemDefaultEUDCFont registry key, aka "Driver Improper Interaction with Windows Kernel Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-4398?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Xp.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-4398?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-4398 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 21 Apr 2022.

## Is CVE-2010-4398 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2010-4398 in the wild since at least 28 Mar 2022.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows Vista/7 - Local Privilege Escalation (UAC Bypass) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 7

- [CVE-2015-1635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1635/): Microsoft HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2360/): Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6324/): Microsoft Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6332/): Microsoft Windows Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) Automation Array Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-4148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4148/): Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-4398 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-4398 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 3 Dec 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2010-4398 in the wild since at least 28 Mar 2022.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 7. 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-2010-4398/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4398/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4398
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4398
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-4398

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4398/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.