CVE DATABASE / CVE-2013-3660
CVE-2013-3660
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2022-03-28.
Federal remediation due 2022-04-18.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
The EPATHOBJ::pprFlattenRec function in win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 does not properly initialize a pointer for the next object in a certain list, which allows local users to obtain write access to the PATHRECORD chain, and consequently gain privileges, by triggering excessive consumption of paged memory and then making many FlattenPath function calls, aka "Win32k Read AV Vulnerability."
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 7.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | REQUIRED |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
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References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0090.html
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-05/0094.html
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2013-06/0006.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/53435
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/309157606247768064
- http://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/335557286657400832
- http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9239477
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25611/
- http://www.osvdb.org/93539
- http://www.reddit.com/r/netsec/comments/1eqh66/0day_windows_kernel_epathobj_vulnerability/
- http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/23/4358400/google-engineer-bashes-microsoft-discloses-windows-flaw
- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-190A
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2013/ms13-053
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A17360
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-3660
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2026-04-22. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.