Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 Malware Protection Engine memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function of the component Malware Protection Engine. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2017-8538. The attack may be initiated remotely. In addition, an exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 (Operating System) and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown code block of the component Malware Protection Engine. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

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-2017-8540 and CVE-2017-8541.

The bug was discovered 05/26/2017. The weakness was presented 05/09/2017 by Mateusz Jurczyk with Google Security Research as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2017-8538 since 05/03/2017. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. 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. The exploit is available at github.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $100k and more. 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 98706†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1038571†). See VDB-101810, VDB-101811, VDB-101812 and VDB-101814 for similar entries. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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: 8.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.9

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
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-2017-8538 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-8538
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-101813

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 98706 - Microsoft Malware Protection Engine CVE-2017-8538 Remote Code Execution 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 (93), 06/05/2020 21:44 (4), 12/23/2025 08:09 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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