Windows win32k.sys RtlQueryRegistryValues Stack Buffer Overflow Privilege Escalation
CVE-2010-4398 is a local privilege-escalation vulnerability in the Windows kernel component win32k.sys affecting Microsoft Windows XP SP2/SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP1/SP2, Windows Server 2008 Gold/SP2/R2, and Windows 7. The flaw is a stack-based buffer overflow in the RtlQueryRegistryValues function. According to the provided description, exploitation is triggered by supplying a crafted REG_BINARY value for the SystemDefaultEUDCFont registry key, causing improper handling in kernel-mode code. The issue allows a local user to corrupt kernel stack memory and elevate privileges. The content also notes this vulnerability was associated with the "Driver Improper Interaction with Windows Kernel Vulnerability" name and was used by multiple threat actors for privilege escalation. Supporting context further indicates broader unsafe patterns around RtlQueryRegistryValues with RTL_QUERY_REGISTRY_DIRECT and insufficient registry type validation were later linked to incomplete fixes in related code paths on older Windows versions.
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Impact, mitigation & remediation
What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.
Impact
What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.
Mitigation
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Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 1 candidate as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.
All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.
Affected products & vendors
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Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
6 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A specific vulnerability (CVE-2010-4398) associated with exploitation or targeting by the Cozy Bear (APT29) threat actor.
A specific vulnerability (CVE-2010-4398) associated with exploitation or targeting by the Cozy Bear (APT29) threat actor.
An incompletely fixed Windows design flaw involving insecure use of RtlQueryRegistryValues that allows attackers with administrator privileges to hide kernel shellcode in the registry and execute it at boot on older Windows versions, including fully updated Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2.
Windows privilege escalation vulnerability exploited by multiple malware/actors in the content (Carberp, CosmicDuke, FIN6).
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.