How severe is CVE-2011-1991?

CVE-2011-1991 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2011-1991 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-1991?

CVE-2011-1991 primarily affects Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. In total, 13 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-1991?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2011-1991 published?

CVE-2011-1991 was published on 2011-09-15 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2011-1991

CVE-2011-1991 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 12% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 12% (96th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Microsoft Windows 2003 Server
Published: 2011-09-15
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .doc, .rtf, or .txt file, related to (1) deskpan.dll in the Display Panning CPL Extension, (2) EAPHost Authenticator Service, (3) Folder Redirection, (4) HyperTerminal, (5) the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME), and (6) Microsoft Management Console (MMC), aka "Windows Components Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-1991?: Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 Gold and SP1 allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .doc, .rtf, or .txt file, related to (1) deskpan.dll in the Display Panning CPL Extension, (2) EAPHost Authenticator Service, (3) Folder Redirection, (4) HyperTerminal, (5) the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME), and (6) Microsoft Management Console (MMC), aka "Windows Components Insecure Library Loading Vulnerability."
How severe is CVE-2011-1991?: CVE-2011-1991 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2011-1991 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2011-1991?: CVE-2011-1991 primarily affects Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. In total, 13 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2011-1991?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2011-1991 published?: CVE-2011-1991 was published on 2011-09-15 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (13)

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:x64:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:x86:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2003:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:sp2:x32:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:itanium:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:*:itanium:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:*:x64:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:*:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp:-:sp2:x64:*:*:*:*:*

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