Code execution via chained Internet Shortcut files
Published Apr 9, 2024 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
SmartScreen bypass in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to execute code by convincing a user to open a crafted Internet Shortcut file. The Internet Shortcut handler omits a security check when one .url file chains to another, suppressing the SmartScreen prompt for delivered content. Opening the attacker-controlled page or file is required, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
SmartScreen bypass in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to execute code by convincing a user to open a crafted Internet Shortcut file. The Internet Shortcut handler omits a security check when one .url file chains to another, suppressing the SmartScreen prompt for delivered content. Opening the attacker-controlled page or file is required, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-29988
- Published
- Apr 9, 2024
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-693, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 30, 2024Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listing
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.5696
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Sploitus CVE-2024-29988 exploitproof of concept · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listingknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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