The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in…
Priority HIGH 78CWE-78Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
The MPC::HexToNum function in helpctr.exe in Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 does not properly handle malformed escape sequences, which allows remote attackers to bypass the trusted documents whitelist (fromHCP option) and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted hcp:// URL, aka "Help Center URL Validation Vulnerability."
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.71148 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD and the CNA
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 · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:itanium:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2003:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:-:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:itanium:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2003:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:-:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-1885
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-3qv5-55f8-3w6h
References
Advisory 6
More Microsoft Windows 2003 Server vulnerabilities
- TI-2009-01458 Unspecified vulnerability in the QuickTime Movie Parser Filter in quartz.dll in… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2008-00014 Stack-based buffer overflow in the CComVariant::ReadFromStream function in the Active… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2015-01523 Win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP2… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2013-04422 NDProxy.sys in the kernel in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3 and Server 2003 SP2 allows… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2011-00574 DNSAPI.dll in the DNS client in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2006-03334 Buffer overflow in the Server Service in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP1 and SP2, and… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2010-1885 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-1885 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3qv5-55f8-3w6h · 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