CVE-2013-3660
Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
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."
Official description from the CVE record, published by mitre. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 High 7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: Required
A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.
Scope: Unchanged
The impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. |
| Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. |
CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.
EPSS
- Score
- 0.39318 (39.3% probability)
- Percentile
- 98.6%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- Name in the catalog
- Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Added to the catalog
- Mar 28, 2022
- Federal due date
- Apr 18, 2022
CISA assessment as of Feb 7, 2025
- Exploitation
- Recorded by CISA as active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
References
- 20130517 Re: exploitation ideas under memory pressure (archives.neohapsis.com)mailing-list
- 25611 (exploit-db.com)exploit
- 20130517 exploitation ideas under memory pressure (archives.neohapsis.com)mailing-list
- 53435 (secunia.com)third-party-advisory
- 93539 (osvdb.org)vdb-entry
- twitter.com/taviso/statuses/309157606247768064
- computerworld.com/s/article/9239477
- theverge.com/2013/5/23/4358400/google-engineer-bashes-micro…
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:17360 (oval.cisecurity.org)vdb-entrysignature
- reddit.com/r/netsec/comments/1eqh66/0day_windows_kernel_epa…
- 20130603 Re: exploitation ideas under memory pressure (archives.neohapsis.com)mailing-list
- TA13-190A (us-cert.gov)third-party-advisory
- MS13-053 (docs.microsoft.com)vendor-advisory
- twitter.com/taviso/statuses/335557286657400832
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:48 UTC. Sources and licenses