SOC status:Duty analyst on shift

UK Cyber Defence
VulnerabilityAnalyzed

CVE-2017-8540

Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations Vulnerability

KEVHIGH 7.8EPSS 72.0%

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
71.96% probability · 99th percentile
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

CISA notes

Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8540

References

Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.