CVE-2013-3900
WinVerifyTrust Signature Validation Vulnerability
- Published
- Dec 11, 2013
- Updated
- Oct 8, 2026
- Assigning CNA
- microsoft
- Evidence observed
- Jan 10, 2022
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HModerate · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 98.7%
- Model date
- Oct 13, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
CISA Known Exploited
This CVE appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Summary
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
Sources
End-to-end remediation of CVE-2013-3900 using PowerShell and Tenable. Demonstrates vulnerability identification, registry hardening, and automated verification in an Azure environment
- cve-2013-3900-remediation-reportInformational
Step-by-step remediation guide for CVE-2013-3900 WinVerifyTrust vulnerability on Windows Server 2019, including registry fix, reboot, and credentialed Nessus scan verification.
Script to make changes on registry to fix CVE-2013-3900. It comes with an option to undo in case it breaks something on your environment.
CVE PoC
Proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2013-3900, a WinVerifyTrust signature validation vulnerability enabling arbitrary code execution via crafted portable executables.
PowerShell-based proof-of-concept for CVE-2013-3900, demonstrating exploitation of the Windows Win32k privilege escalation vulnerability.
Responsible use
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