Executive Summary

CVE-2013-3900 enables remote code execution by allowing an attacker to modify a signed PE file and bypass WinVerifyTrust verification. The flaw permits full system compromise, including installing malware, deleting data, or creating privileged accounts, especially when the user has administrative rights. Microsoft offers an opt‑in registry setting (EnableCertPaddingCheck) in all supported Windows 10/11 releases; no patch is required, but the key must be enabled. The vulnerability is actively exploited (CISA KEV).

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Authoritative CVE Metadata - CVSS Base Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM) - Published: 2013-12-11T00:55:03.693 - Last Modified: 2026-10-07T17:58:36.270

[!CAUTION] Known Exploited Vulnerability: YES (CISA KEV Added: 2022-01-10)

Original Description: Why is Microsoft republishing a CVE from 2013? We are republishing CVE-2013-3900 in the Security Update Guide to update the Security Updates table and to inform customers that the EnableCertPaddingCheck is available in all currently supported versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. While the format is different from the original CVE published in 2013, except for clarifications about how to configure the EnableCertPaddingCheck registry value, the information herein remains unchanged from the original text published on December 10, 2013, Microsoft does not plan to enforce the stricter verification behavior as a default functionality on supported releases of Microsoft Windows. This behavior remains available as an opt-in feature via reg key setting, and is available on supported editions of Windows released since December 10, 2013. This includes all currently supported versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. The supporting code for this reg key was incorporated at the time of release for Windows 10 and Windows 11, so no security update is required; however, the reg key must be set. See the Security Updates table for the list of affected software. Vulnerability Description A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the WinVerifyTrust function handles Windows Authenticode signature verification for portable executable (PE) files. An anonymous attacker could exploit the vulnerability by modifying an existing signed executable file to leverage unverified portions of the file in such a way as to add malicious code to the file without invalidating the signature. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of this vulnerability requires that a user or application run or install a specially crafted, signed PE file. An attacker could modify an... See more at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2013-3900

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