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CVE-2010-1885 is a command execution vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center component (helpctr.exe) on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. According to the provided content, the vulnerable code is the MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe, which does not properly handle malformed escape sequences in hcp:// URLs. This improper input handling allows an attacker to bypass the trusted documents whitelist enforced by the fromHCP option. By supplying a crafted hcp:// URL, a remote attacker can cause arbitrary commands to be executed.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).
This repository contains a single Metasploit module (ms10_042_helpctr_xss_cmd_exec.rb) that exploits CVE-2010-1885, a command execution vulnerability in the Microsoft Help and Support Center (HelpCtr) on Windows XP SP2/SP3. The exploit leverages a cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the 'hcp://' protocol handler, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's system when they visit a malicious web page with a vulnerable version of Internet Explorer. The module acts as an HTTP server, serving specially crafted content to the victim. It uses WebDAV to deliver a payload executable, which is then executed on the target system. The exploit is highly weaponized, allowing the attacker to configure the payload and delivery mechanism. The module is part of the Metasploit framework and is written in Ruby. The main attack vectors are browser-based (drive-by download or social engineering) and network-based (HTTP/WebDAV). Key fingerprintable endpoints include the attacker's HTTP server, the WebDAV file share, and the use of the 'hcp://' protocol. The repository is structured as a single exploit module file, with all logic contained within.
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4 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A specific vulnerability used in several exploit kits according to the table.
A Microsoft Windows Help vulnerability exploited for code execution.
A Microsoft Windows Help vulnerability used for code execution.
A Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center vulnerability exploited for code execution.
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Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
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Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.