CVE-2017-8540
Exploited in the wild. In CISA KEV since 2022‑03‑03. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
What it is
From the CVE record
The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 and 2016, does not properly scan a specially crafted file leading to memory corruption. aka "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability", a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-8538 and CVE-2017-8541.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Listed as exploited in the wild since 2022-03-03.
US federal agencies must remediate by 2022-03-24.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Public exploits
1 source with a proof of concept or module.
Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in- EPSS
72% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 99th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
A public exploit existed 47 days before the patch.
- OpenVAS check added
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Public exploit / PoCsource: exploit-db
- Added to CISA KEV
- Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped
Affected products
- Microsoft Exchange ServerOperating Systems
- Microsoft Endpoint ProtectionSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- Microsoft Forefront Endpoint ProtectionSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- Microsoft Security EssentialsSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- System Center Endpoint ProtectionSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- Intune Endpoint ProtectionSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- Microsoft Malware Protection EngineSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
- malware protection engineSecurity Products / endpoint-av-edr
And 8 more affected products. See all after sign-in
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 7.8 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction RequiredA user must click a link, open a file, or perform some action
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
- Initial AccessT1190Exploit Public-Facing Applicationhigh confidence
- Privilege EscalationT1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalationhigh confidence
Sources
References in the record
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540
- securityfocus.com/bid/98703
- exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/
And 4 more references. See all after sign-in
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