Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1 and SP2, Server 2008 SP2 and R2, and Windows 7 allows local users or remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) .LNK or (2) .PIF shortcut file, which is not properly handled during icon display in Windows Explorer, as demonstrated in the wild in July 2010, and originally reported for malware that leverages CVE-2010-2772 in Siemens WinCC SCADA systems.

The remote windows host contains a version of the Windows Shell that contains a vulnerability in the way it handles shortcut icons. An attacker, exploiting this flaw, can execute arbitrary commands on the remote host subject to the privileges of the user opening the shortcut.

EASYHOOKUP is one of multiple Equation Group vulnerabilities and exploits disclosed on 2017/04/14 by a group known as the Shadow Brokers.

Windows Shell does not properly validate the parameters of a shortcut file when loading its icon. Attempting to parse the icon of a specially crafted shortcut file can result in arbitrary code execution. A remote attacker could exploit this by tricking a user into viewing a malicious shortcut file via Windows Explorer, or any other application that parses the shortcut's icon. This can also be exploited by an attacker who tricks a user into inserting removable media containing a malicious shortcut (e.g. CD, USB drive), and AutoPlay is enabled.

EASYHOOKUP is one of multiple Equation Group vulnerabilities and exploits disclosed on 2017/04/14 by a group known as the Shadow Brokers.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
48216	MS10-046: Vulnerability in Windows Shell Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2286198) (EASYHOOKUP)	Nessus	Windows : Microsoft Bulletins	high
47750	MS KB2286198: Windows Shell Shortcut Icon Parsing Arbitrary Code Execution (EASYHOOKUP)	Nessus	Windows	high

Detections

Analytics

CVE-2010-2568

high

Tenable Plugins

high

high