# What is CVE-2010-3972?

> CVE-2010-3972 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) in Internet Information Services from Microsoft, published on 23 December 2010. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 95%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2010-3972

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 78 out of 100 (High); action: Patch now. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 10.0 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 95% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 23 December 2010
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026
- **Main product:** Internet Information Services from Microsoft
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2010-3972? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the TELNET_STREAM_CONTEXT::OnSendData function in ftpsvc.dll in Microsoft FTP Service 7.0 and 7.5 for Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, and IIS 7.5, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted FTP command, aka "IIS FTP Service Heap Buffer Overrun Vulnerability." NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`

## Is CVE-2010-3972 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 95%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 95%, 95%, 95%, 95%, 95%, 95%, 95%.

### Timeline

- 23 December 2010: Published
- 16 June 2026: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2010-3972 scores **78 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Patch now".

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-2010-3972?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [Internet Information Services](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/internet_information_services) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Application): 7.5

## How do I fix CVE-2010-3972?

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. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [secunia.com](http://secunia.com/advisories/42713) (Vendor advisory)
- [vupen.com](http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3305) (Vendor advisory)
- [blogs.technet.com](http://blogs.technet.com/b/srd/archive/2011/01/07/assessing-the-risk-of-public-issues-currently-being-tracked-by-the-msrc.aspx)
- [exploit-db.com](http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15803) (Exploit)
- [kb.cert.org](http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/842372) (Government resource)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/45542) (Exploit)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024921)
- [docs.microsoft.com](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2011/ms11-004)
- [exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/64248)
- [oval.cisecurity.org](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12370)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2010-3972?

CVE-2010-3972 is a critical-severity flaw in Internet Information Services from Microsoft, published on 23 December 2010. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2010-3972?

It scores 10.0 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2010-3972 is 78 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Patch now". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.

### Is CVE-2010-3972 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 95%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2010-3972 affect?

For Internet Information Services from Microsoft: 7.5.

### How do I fix CVE-2010-3972?

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.

## Does CVE-2010-3972 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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