1. Cleus
  2. Zero-days
  3. CVE-2013-3900
Exploited in the wildServers & business softwareWork IT

CVE-2013-3900 Microsoft WinVerifyTrust function: command or code injection

In plain words: The program treats text it receives as instructions instead of plain data. The attacker can run commands on the machine — often the whole device is taken over.

Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Jul 10, 2022

What to do

  1. Install Microsoft's security update for WinVerifyTrust function. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
  2. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
  3. Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
  4. Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.

Who is affected

Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.

The details

Official name
Microsoft WinVerifyTrust function Remote Code Execution
Product
Microsoft WinVerifyTrust function
CISA description
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the WinVerifyTrust function handles Windows Authenticode signature verification for PE files.
Type of flaw
Command or code injection (CWE-20)
Confirmed exploited
Jan 10, 2022
US federal patch deadline
Jul 10, 2022

Ask Cleus about it

Ask about a vulnerability, an update, a weird message, or the news. Plain-word answers, free, no account.

Answering about CVE-2013-3900 ·

Questions about CVE-2013-3900

Is CVE-2013-3900 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2013-3900 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 10, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2013-3900?

Install Microsoft's security update for WinVerifyTrust function. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.

Am I affected by CVE-2013-3900?

Only if you use Microsoft WinVerifyTrust function. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

Other exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities

Newest in the catalog

Search every known exploited vulnerability →