CVE-2010-4398 — Microsoft Windows Kernel Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
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."
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- Exploited by 1 threat actor(s) (MITRE ATT&CK)+10
- Public exploit/PoC (exploitdb)+8
- EPSS 8.7% (30-day exploitation probability)+14
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — docs.microsoft.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: Apr 21, 2022 — passed 1638 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008…).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- EPSS ahead of 95% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 7 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2003 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 | versions not specified by the sourceversion r2 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Vista | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Microsoft | Windows Xp | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.8 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.8 | 5.9 | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | CISA-ADP via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 7.2 | CVSS 2.0 | High | 3.9 | 10.0 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- Microsoft Windows Vista/7 - Local Privilege Escalation (UAC Bypass) verified Nov 24, 2010
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
Threat actors exploiting this CVE MITRE ATT&CK
According to MITRE ATT&CK.
FIN6 G0037EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 8.66%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Mar 28, 2022 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · microsoft/windows 7, microsoft/windows server 2003, microsoft/windows server 2008, microsoft/windows vista, microsoft/wi
- Source status changed · Published → Analyzed
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 7.8
- Source status changed · → Published
- SSVC assessment updated
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- 2022
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- 2010
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 3× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
19 on the record
- secunia.com/advisories/42356
- docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2011/ms11-011
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4398
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15609
- www.securitytracker.com/id
- www.exploit-db.com/bypassing-uac-with-user-privilege-under-windows-vista7-mirror/
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15609/
- nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/11/25/new-windows-zero-day-flaw-bypasses-uac
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12162
- www.exploit-db.com/bypassing-uac-with-user-privilege-under-windows-vista7-mirror
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-v6fx-3qcr-2mfg
- twitter.com/msftsecresponse/statuses/7590788200402945
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/529673
- support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100127248
- isc.sans.edu/diary.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/45045
- nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/11/25/new-windows-zero-day-flaw-bypasses-uac/
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0324
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-20940 Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
- High CVE-2026-20931 Windows Telephony Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-20936 Windows NDIS Information Disclosure Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
- High CVE-2026-20929 Windows HTTP.sys Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-20925 NTLM Hash Disclosure Spoofing Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-20927 Windows SMB Server Denial of Service Vulnerability Jan 13, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2010-4398 is "Microsoft Windows Kernel Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability", rated High. It affects Windows 7 (Microsoft); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 7.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 8.66% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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