# What is CVE-2010-0232?

> CVE-2010-0232 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) in Windows 2000 from Microsoft, published on 21 January 2010. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 29%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2010-0232

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 72 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 29% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 21 January 2010
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026
- **Main product:** Windows 2000 from Microsoft
- **Affected products:** 3

## What is CVE-2010-0232? In plain terms

An attacker has to be already on the device with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

The kernel in Microsoft Windows NT 3.1 through Windows 7, including Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, and Windows Server 2008 Gold and SP2, when access to 16-bit applications is enabled on a 32-bit x86 platform, does not properly validate certain BIOS calls, which allows local users to gain privileges by crafting a VDM_TIB data structure in the Thread Environment Block (TEB), and then calling the NtVdmControl function to start the Windows Virtual DOS Machine (aka NTVDM) subsystem, leading to improperly handled exceptions involving the #GP trap handler (nt!KiTrap0D), aka "Windows Kernel Exception Handler Vulnerability."

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Already on the device
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: An ordinary user account
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2010-0232 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 29%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 29%, 29%, 29%, 29%, 29%, 29%, 29%.

### Timeline

- 21 January 2010: Published
- 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood fell
- 16 June 2026: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2010-0232 scores **72 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2010-0232?

The published record lists 3 products.

- [Windows 2000](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows_2000) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Windows 7](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows_7) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Windows Xp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows_xp) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2010-0232?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [microsoft.com](http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/979682.mspx) (Broken link, Patch, Vendor advisory)
- [docs.microsoft.com](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2010/ms10-015) (Patch, Vendor advisory)
- [secunia.com](http://secunia.com/advisories/38265) (Broken link, Vendor advisory)
- [vupen.com](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0179) (Broken link, Vendor advisory)
- [blogs.technet.com](http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2010/01/20/security-advisory-979682-released.aspx) (Broken link)
- [lists.immunitysec.com](http://lists.immunitysec.com/pipermail/dailydave/2010-January/006000.html) (Broken link)
- [lock.cmpxchg8b.com](http://lock.cmpxchg8b.com/c0af0967d904cef2ad4db766a00bc6af/KiTrap0D.zip) (Broken link, Exploit)
- [seclists.org](http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Jan/341) (Exploit, Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [securitytracker.com](http://securitytracker.com/id?1023471) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/509106/100/0/threaded) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37864) (Broken link, Exploit, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [us-cert.gov](http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA10-040A.html) (Third-party advisory, Government resource)
- [exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55742) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [oval.cisecurity.org](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8344) (Broken link)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-0232) (Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2010-0232?

CVE-2010-0232 is a high-severity flaw in Windows 2000 from Microsoft, published on 21 January 2010. An attacker has to be already on the device with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2010-0232?

It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2010-0232 is 72 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2010-0232 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 29%.

### Which versions does CVE-2010-0232 affect?

For Windows 2000 from Microsoft: version not specified. The record lists 3 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2010-0232?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2010-0232 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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