CVE-2017-8540
Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 24 March 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
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 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 71.87% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 30 May 2017
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 March 2022 · due 24 March 2022
- Weakness
- CWE-787
- Affected
- microsoft/malware protection engine · microsoft/endpoint protection · microsoft/exchange server · microsoft/forefront endpoint protection · microsoft/forefront security · microsoft/intune endpoint protection · microsoft/security essentials · microsoft/system center endpoint protection · microsoft/windows defender
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 71.9% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8540
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-8540US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.