CVE-2017-0282 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Uniscribe in 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, 1703, Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Office 2007 SP3, and Microsoft Office 2010 SP2 allows improper disclosure of memory contents, aka "Windows Uniscribe Information Disclosure Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-0284, CVE-2017-0285, and CVE-2017-8534.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2025
The Windows Uniscribe information disclosure vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting multiple Microsoft operating systems and office applications. This vulnerability resides within the Uniscribe text processing engine which handles complex text rendering operations including Unicode text processing and font management. The flaw manifests when the system processes specially crafted text input that triggers improper memory access patterns within the Uniscribe component. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which describes improper output sanitization or information exposure, making it a significant concern for system security and data protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of text processing routines within Uniscribe that handle bidirectional text rendering and complex script processing. When malicious input is processed through the affected components, the system fails to properly validate memory boundaries during text rendering operations, leading to the potential disclosure of sensitive information from adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework category of T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1552.001 for Unsecured Credentials, as it can potentially enable attackers to extract confidential data through memory disclosure attacks. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Microsoft products including Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 10, and various Microsoft Office versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive data such as encryption keys, passwords, or other confidential information stored in memory regions adjacent to the vulnerable text processing routines. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Windows versions and Office applications creates widespread exposure risk, particularly in environments where users process untrusted text content. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web content, or malicious documents that trigger the affected text rendering code paths. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of data breaches and potential privilege escalation attacks if this vulnerability is successfully exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from Microsoft as part of the regular security update cycle. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the relevant security updates for Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 10, and Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted documents, configuring network firewalls to limit access to vulnerable systems, and monitoring for suspicious text processing activities. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as Data Execution Prevention and Address Space Layout Randomization to reduce exploit effectiveness. The vulnerability's classification under CVE-2017-0282 highlights its significance in the Microsoft security landscape, with security teams advised to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation opportunities before patches are deployed.