Race condition in ESET Smart Security 4.2.35.3 on Windows XP allows local users to bypass…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Race condition in ESET Smart Security 4.2.35.3 on Windows XP allows local users to bypass kernel-mode hook handlers, and execute dangerous code that would otherwise be blocked by a handler but not blocked by signature-based malware detection, via certain user-space memory changes during hook-handler execution, aka an argument-switch attack or a KHOBE attack. NOTE: this issue is disputed by some third parties because it is a flaw in a protection mechanism for situations where a crafted program has already begun to execute
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
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 · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:eset:smart_security:4.2.35.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.2.35.3 | Vulnerable | ESET, spol. s r.o. |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Running on | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:eset:smart_security:4.2.35.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2.35.3 Vulnerable ·ESET, spol. s r.o.
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Running on ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-5160
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r8w5-3rqg-f6pm
References
Other 8
- 20100505 KHOBE - 8.0 earthquake for Windows desktop security software
- http://countermeasures.trendmicro.eu/you-just-cant-trust-a-drunk/
- http://matousec.com/info/articles/khobe-8.0-earthquake-for-windows-desktop-security-software.php
- 20100505 KHOBE - 8.0 earthquake for Windows desktop security software
- 67660
- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/07/argument_switch_av_bypass/
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001949.html
- http://matousec.com/info/advisories/khobe-8.0-earthquake-for-windows-desktop-security-software.php
More ESET, spol. s r.o. Smart Security vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-08204 The ESET AV parsing engine allows virus-detection bypass via a crafted BZ2 Checksum field… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2008-05243 ESET Smart Security, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
- TI-2024-00320 Local privilege escalation in Windows products CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-05150 Improper following of a certificate's chain of trust in ESET security products CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2020-08214 ESET Archive Support Module before 1294 allows virus-detection bypass via crafted RAR… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2018-00604 Untrusted search path in Canon IT Solutions Inc. The installers of multiple Canon IT… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2010-5160 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-5160 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r8w5-3rqg-f6pm · 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