« Back to list

CVE-2017-8540

Status: AnalyzedHigh (7.8)⚠ Active exploitation

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.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

CISA KEV — actively exploited

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

Vector AV:L/PR:N/UI:R indica explotación local con interacción del usuario (archivo malicioso). Corrupción de memoria en Malware Protection Engine permite RCE (T1059) y acceso a datos en memoria (T1005).

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Affected technologies (9)

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2017-8540",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2017-8540",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "active"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2025-02-10T15:08:46.174343Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 9.3,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 10,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      },
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Microsoft Corporation",
          "product": "Malware Protection Engine",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "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."
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2017-05-26T20:29:00.427",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540",
      "tags": [
        "Mitigation",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "secure@microsoft.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571",
      "tags": [
        "Broken Link",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540",
      "tags": [
        "Mitigation",
        "Patch",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-8540",
      "tags": [
        "US Government Resource"
      ],
      "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-787"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-787"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "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."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "El Motor de Protección de Malware de Microsoft ejecutado en Microsoft Forefront y Microsoft Defender en Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 y R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows versión 8.1, Windows Server 2012 versión Gold y R2, Windows RT versión 8.1, Windows 10 versiones Gold, 1511, 1607 y 1703 y Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 y 2016, no analiza apropiadamente un archivo especialmente diseñado conllevando a una corrupción de memoria. también se conoce como \"Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability\", una vulnerabilidad diferente de CVE-2017-8538 y CVE-2017-8541."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T01:26:32.713",
  "cisaActionDue": "2022-03-24",
  "cisaExploitAdd": "2022-03-03",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:malware_protection_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "232A1DC9-D943-407F-B82C-3D7522E19A18",
              "versionEndExcluding": "1.1.13704.0",
              "versionStartIncluding": "1.1.13701.0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1507:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "542DAEEC-73CC-46C6-A630-BF474A3446AC"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1511:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "7A8E9D99-BD78-4340-88F2-5AFF27AC37C9"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "61019899-D7AF-46E4-A72C-D189180F66AB"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1703:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E1DD582C-1660-4E6E-81A1-537BD1307A99"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "C2B1C231-DE19-4B8F-A4AA-5B3A65276E46"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E93068DB-549B-45AB-8E5C-00EB5D8B5CF8"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_rt_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "C6CE5198-C498-4672-AF4C-77AB4BE06C5C"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "5F422A8C-2C4E-42C8-B420-E0728037E15C"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "2ACA9287-B475-4AF7-A4DA-A7143CEF9E57"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "A7DF96F8-BA6A-4780-9CA3-F719B3F81074"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "DB18C4CE-5917-401E-ACF7-2747084FD36E"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "041FF8BA-0B12-4A1F-B4BF-9C4F33B7C1E7"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ],
      "operator": "AND"
    },
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:endpoint_protection:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "AC297F51-9742-43A2-8783-53B7E4D5E435"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:exchange_server:2013:-:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "27EF8DB7-D5A0-47A8-9F69-7D0259490D69"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:exchange_server:2016:-:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "8039FBA1-73D4-4FF2-B183-0DCC961CBFF7"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:forefront_endpoint_protection:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "CC9503E8-6282-4F3A-A6DA-0FA8A9BD941B"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:forefront_endpoint_protection:2010:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E55E0DDF-4D05-4E5F-BC54-790A722E87A5"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:forefront_security:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "BB6F1182-AC87-4A8E-841D-25C94DD7116A"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:intune_endpoint_protection:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "CFC8E84F-EEC0-4803-9779-8A49658F2180"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:security_essentials:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "20FBA682-B703-4590-98E4-8897EED11DE0"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:system_center_endpoint_protection:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "194DE421-9536-4001-9A27-6C88805421EA"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_defender:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "794244D1-F317-44C8-8338-3DA74E71D4B0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "secure@microsoft.com",
  "cisaRequiredAction": "Apply updates per vendor instructions.",
  "cisaVulnerabilityName": "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations Vulnerability"
}