Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 Malware Protection Engine data processing

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 and classified as critical. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component Malware Protection Engine. Executing a manipulation can lead to data processing. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2017-8537. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 (Operating System) and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown code of the component Malware Protection Engine. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a data processing vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-19. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

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 denial of service. aka "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Denial of Service Vulnerability", a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-8535, CVE-2017-8536, CVE-2017-8539, and CVE-2017-8542.

The bug was discovered 05/26/2017. The weakness was disclosed 05/09/2017 by Mateusz Jurczyk with Google Security Research as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2017-8537 since 05/03/2017. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

A public exploit has been developed by Google Security Research and been published 3 weeks after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at github.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 100551 (Microsoft Malware Protection Engine < 1.1.13804 Multiple Vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 370407 (Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Privilege Escalation Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (42081), Tenable (100551), SecurityFocus (BID 98705†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1038571†). The entries VDB-101810, VDB-101811, VDB-101813 and VDB-101814 are pretty similar. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 up to Server 2012 R2
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2013/2016

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Data processing
CWE: CWE-19
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Author: Google Security Research
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 100551
Nessus Name: Microsoft Malware Protection Engine < 1.1.13804 Multiple Vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 804425
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Malware Protection Engine on Windows Defender Multiple Vulnerabilities
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

05/03/2017 🔍
05/09/2017 +6 days 🔍
05/09/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/25/2017 +16 days 🔍
05/26/2017 +1 days 🔍
05/26/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/26/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/27/2017 +1 days 🔍
05/29/2017 +2 days 🔍
05/29/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/31/2017 +2 days 🔍
12/23/2025 +3128 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Researcher: Mateusz Jurczyk
Organization: Google Security Research
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2017-8537 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-8537
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-101812

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 98705 - Microsoft Malware Protection Engine CVE-2017-8537 Remote Denial of Service Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1038571

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 05/27/2017 09:50
Updated: 12/23/2025 08:09
Changes: 05/27/2017 09:50 (94), 06/05/2020 21:38 (4), 12/23/2025 08:09 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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