The URL handling in Shell32.dll in the Windows shell in Microsoft Windows XP and Server…
Priority HIGH 72CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The URL handling in Shell32.dll in the Windows shell in Microsoft Windows XP and Server 2003, with Internet Explorer 7 installed, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via invalid "%" sequences in a mailto: or other URI handler, as demonstrated using mIRC, Outlook, Firefox, Adobe Reader, Skype, and other applications. NOTE: this issue might be related to other issues involving URL handlers in Windows systems, such as CVE-2007-3845. There also might be separate but closely related issues in the applications that are invoked by the handlers.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.53831 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:*:itanium:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:itanium:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:internet_explorer:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:*:itanium:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:itanium:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:internet_explorer:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2007-3896
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wmhg-7fm8-r4vp
- 2026-10-23 EPSS moved to the 99th percentile and above
- 2026-10-25 EPSS moved to the 95th–99th percentile
- 2026-10-31 EPSS moved to the 99th percentile and above
References
Other 16
- 20071005 URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- http://www.heise-security.co.uk/news/96982
- 20071005 URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=577
- 20071006 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071006 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:4581
- http://xs-sniper.com/blog/remote-command-exec-firefox-2005/
- 20071007 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071009 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071006 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071007 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071003 0day: mIRC pwns Windows
- 20071007 Re: [Full-disclosure] URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071006 Re: URI handling woes in Acrobat Reader, Netscape, Miranda, Skype
- 20071003 Re: 0day: mIRC pwns Windows
More Microsoft Internet Explorer vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-00277 Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.269 and 14.x through… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2015-00275 Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player through 13.0.0.262 and 14.x, 15.x, and… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-01386 Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-01340 Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2019-00335 Command injection in Microsoft Office KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2017-00204 Out-of-bounds write in Microsoft Internet Explorer KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2007-3896 · CVE Program
- CVE-2007-3896 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wmhg-7fm8-r4vp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences