Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution

August 03, 2010

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a publicly disclosed vulnerability in Windows Shell. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if the icon of a specially crafted shortcut is displayed. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the local user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.

This security update is rated Critical for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting validation of shortcut icon references.

This security update addresses the vulnerability first described in Microsoft Security Advisory 2286198.

Public Bulletin Webcast

Microsoft will host a webcast to address customer questions on this bulletin:

Title: Information About Microsoft's August 2010 (Out-of-Band) Security Bulletin Release

Date: Monday, August 02, 2010, at 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time (U.S. & Canada).

URL: https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032456779

Public Resources related to this alert

• Security Bulletin MS10-046 – Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS10-046.mspx/  

• Security Advisory 2286198 – Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2286198.mspx     

• Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/

• Microsoft Security Research & Defense (SRD) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/srd/

• Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/  

• Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/sdl/  

New Security Bulletin Technical Details

In the following tables of affected and non-affected software, software editions that are not listed are past their support lifecycle. To determine the support lifecycle for your product and edition, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle website at http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/.