Microsoft Windows Shell (.lnk) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CheckOps priority index

8.6/10 Patch within 24 h

Severity8.8

Probability9.0

Exploitation4/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 90.0% higher than 99.8% of CVEs

CVSS 3.1 8.8 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:

Exploited for 1,727 days 10 Feb 2022

CISA due date 10 Aug 2022 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 4 / 5

KEV catalog (CISA)10 Feb 2022
Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)10 Feb 2022
Used by ransomwareno
EPSS above 10 %90.0%
No account, over the networkyes

What to do

Fix

Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.

CISA guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Description ENISA EUVD

Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows local users or remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .LNK file, which is not properly handled during icon display in Windows Explorer or any other application that parses the icon of the shortcut. aka "LNK Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

Affected products

Windows ShellWindows

Affected versions

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016

Open source packages OSV

Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.

Timeline

15 Jun 2017
Published
10 Feb 2022
Exploitation reported (ENISA)
10 Feb 2022
Added to the KEV catalog
10 Aug 2022
CISA remediation due date
05 Oct 2026
EPSS peak: 90.0%

References

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