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CVE-2024-21412 is a security-feature bypass in Microsoft Windows Internet Shortcut handling. An attacker can send a specially crafted Internet Shortcut file that causes Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warnings to be bypassed. Observed exploitation used a shortcut chain in which a malicious .url file points to another .url file hosted on a remote SMB or WebDAV share, enabling execution of the ultimately referenced payload.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository demonstrates a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2024-21412, targeting Microsoft Windows. The exploit leverages a chain of .url (Internet Shortcut) files and a crafted HTML file to bypass Microsoft Defender SmartScreen and achieve arbitrary code execution via a remote SMB share. The structure includes: - A 'webserver' directory with an HTML file that uses the 'search:' protocol to direct Windows Explorer to a malicious SMB share. - A 'samba-compose' directory with Docker Compose and Samba configuration files, setting up an SMB server with specific shares and user credentials. - The 'pictures' subdirectory contains chained .url files that ultimately point to a CMD script (a2.cmd) inside a ZIP archive on the SMB share. - The 'loader' directory contains the CMD script payload, which demonstrates code execution by launching calc.exe. Commented lines in the script suggest the potential for more advanced payloads, such as DLL injection. The exploit requires the attacker to run both the web server and the Samba server, and the victim to access the malicious HTML or .url files, triggering the exploit chain. The endpoints and configuration files are tailored for a local network (192.168.1.70), but could be adapted for other environments. The repository is a functional POC and does not include weaponized or highly automated payloads.
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39 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A Windows Defender SmartScreen zero-day vulnerability exploited in earlier 2023-2024 DarkMe campaigns; the documented 2026 campaign no longer uses it.
A Windows Defender SmartScreen vulnerability previously exploited to deliver the DarkMe spy-RAT; it was not used in the August 31, 2026 incidents described.
A previously unknown vulnerability in Windows Defender SmartScreen that Water Hydra/DarkCasino weaponised against foreign-exchange traders during 2023–2024. It is historical context only; no exploit is involved in the described 2026 DarkMe phishing campaign.
A Microsoft Defender SmartScreen bypass used by Water Hydra to deliver DarkMe through crafted shortcut files and WebDAV staging.
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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.