CVE-2001-0538

Microsoft Outlook < 2002 - Remote Code Execution via Malicious HTML Email or Web Page

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2001-0538. PoCs published by Georgi Guninski.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages an unsafe ActiveX control in Microsoft Outlook XP to access and manipulate user emails via scripting. It demonstrates reading email content and executing arbitrary commands through WScript.Shell.

Description

Microsoft Outlook View ActiveX Control in Microsoft Outlook 2002 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a malicious HTML e-mail message or web page.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Georgi Guninski · textremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/21003

This exploit leverages an unsafe ActiveX control in Microsoft Outlook XP to access and manipulate user emails via scripting. It demonstrates reading email content and executing arbitrary commands through WScript.Shell.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Outlook XP
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Outlook XP installed · At least one email in the Inbox · ActiveX controls enabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Georgi Guninski · textremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/21004

This exploit leverages the 'Microsoft Outlook View Control' ActiveX control, marked as 'safe for scripting', to execute arbitrary commands via WScript.Shell. It demonstrates command execution by running a directory listing command.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Outlook XP
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target must have at least one message in Outlook XP's Inbox · ActiveX controls must be enabled
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (7)

Core 7
Core References
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=99496431214078&w=2
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/3025
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/6831
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory government-resource x_refsource_ciac
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/l-113.shtml
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert-vn
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/131569

Scores

EPSS 0.5285
EPSS Percentile 98.8%

Details

Status published
Products (1)
microsoft/outlook < 2002
Published Aug 14, 2001
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026