Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2010-3970?

Affected: Windows Server 2003 (Microsoft); Windows Server 2008 (Microsoft); Windows Vista (Microsoft), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2010-3970 being exploited in the wild?

It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.

Is CVE-2010-3970 in the CISA KEV catalog?

No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2010-3970?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2010-3970?

No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

How urgently should CVE-2010-3970 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2010-3970

CriticalPublic exploit

Published Dec 22, 2010 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2010-3970 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.3 v2) affecting Windows Server 2003 (Microsoft), Windows Server 2008 (Microsoft), Windows Vista (Microsoft) and 1 more product.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 68% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

CVSS v2

9.3

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

68%

Higher than 99.3% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

No known

Not in a known-exploited catalog

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2010-3970 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the CreateSizedDIBSECTION function in shimgvw.dll in the Windows Shell graphics processor (aka graphics rendering engine) in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1 and SP2, and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .MIC or unspecified Office document containing a thumbnail bitmap with a negative biClrUsed value, as reported by Moti and Xu Hao, aka "Windows Shell Graphics Processing Overrun Vulnerability."

Affected Products

11 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
Windows Server 2003Microsoft	See advisory	n/a
Windows Server 2008Microsoft	See advisory	n/a
Windows VistaMicrosoft	See advisory	n/a
Windows XpMicrosoft	See advisory	n/a

Timeline

Publicly disclosed
Dec 22, 2010
Last updated
Apr 28, 2026

Weakness Type

CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

References

advisory42779
advisoryhttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2490606.mspx
advisoryADV-2011-0018
exploitMSF ms11_006_createsizeddibsection.rb
exploitExploitDB-16660

8 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

Stack-based buffer overflow in the CreateSizedDIBSECTION function in shimgvw.dll in the Windows Shell graphics processor (aka graphics rendering engine) in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP1 and SP2, and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted…
Affected: Windows Server 2003 (Microsoft); Windows Server 2008 (Microsoft); Windows Vista (Microsoft), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

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