CVE-2010-4398 — Microsoft Windows Kernel Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Stack-based buffer overflow in the RtlQueryRegistryValues function in win32k.sys in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 and SP2, Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2, and Windows 7 allows local users to gain privileges, and bypass the Use

01What is this vulnerability?

Stack-based buffer overflow in the RtlQueryRegistryValues function in win32k.sys in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1 and SP2, Windows Server 2008 Gold, SP2, and R2, and Windows 7 allows local users to gain privileges, and bypass the User Account Control (UAC) feature, via a crafted REG_BINARY value for a SystemDefaultEUDCFont registry key, aka "Driver…

02Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
n	a / n/a	n/a

03Active exploitation status

Yes — actively exploited. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2022-03-28. Ransomware use: Unknown.

04Recommended remediation

• Patch to a fixed version listed in the vendor advisory (see references below).
• Mitigate with WAF rules, network egress filters, or feature flags where the patch is not yet available.
• Hunt historical logs for exploitation indicators — see Detection signatures below.

05Technical details

For the full vendor write-up, exploit chains, and reference implementations, see the references list in section 09.

06Detection signatures

Open the Sigma generator with a pre-filled prompt for this CVE to draft a starting detection in your stack of choice:

Open in Sigma generator →

07Related CVEs

No directly-cited follow-up CVEs in the KB record for this advisory. The references list in section 09 carries the vendor cross-references.

08Timeline

• Published: 2010-12-03T20:00:00.000Z
• Last modified: 2025-10-22T00:05:50.613Z
• Added to CISA KEV: 2022-03-28
• BOD 22-01 due: 2022-04-21

09References

• isc.sans.edu — http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=9988
• www.securityfocus.com — http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/45045
• www.exploit-db.com — http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15609/
• nakedsecurity.sophos.com — http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/11/25/new-windows-zero-day-flaw-bypasses-ua…
• support.avaya.com — http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100127248
• www.vupen.com — http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0324
• www.exploit-db.com — http://www.exploit-db.com/bypassing-uac-with-user-privilege-under-windows-vista7…
• twitter.com — http://twitter.com/msftsecresponse/statuses/7590788200402945
• docs.microsoft.com — https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2011/ms11-01…
• www.securitytracker.com — http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1025046
• www.kb.cert.org — http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/529673
• secunia.com — http://secunia.com/advisories/42356
• oval.cisecurity.org — https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3…