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Malware Protection Engine CVE-2017-8541

HIGH
Buffer Overflow (CWE-119)
2017-05-26 secure@microsoft.com
7.8
CVSS 3.0 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, buffer size validation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 64.20%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local attacker with access to the system could corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.
No patch listed yet 64.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

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. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and EPSS exploitation probability 64.2%.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Use memory-safe languages or bounds-checking. Enable ASLR, DEP/NX, stack canaries. Use safe string functions.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Buffer Overflow (CWE-119), which allows attackers to corrupt memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application. 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-2017-8540. Affected products include: Microsoft Forefront Security, Microsoft Malware Protection Engine, Microsoft Windows Defender.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

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-2017-8540.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score
5.0/10
Composite threat intelligence
EPSS Score
64.2%
Top 2% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 64.2%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

123
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +64
CVSS: +39
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:forefront_security:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:malware_protection_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_defender:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2017-0290 HIGH POC
7.8 May 09

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Serve

CVE-2017-8538 HIGH POC
7.8 May 26

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Serve

CVE-2017-11937 HIGH
7.8 Dec 07

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Windows 7 SP1, Windows

CVE-2017-11940 HIGH
7.8 Dec 08

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Windows 7 SP1, Windows

CVE-2013-1346 CRITICAL
9.3 May 15

mpengine.dll in Microsoft Malware Protection Engine before 1.1.9506.0 on x64 platforms allows remote attackers to execut

CVE-2017-8542 MEDIUM
5.5 May 26

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Serve

CVE-2017-8539 MEDIUM
5.5 May 26

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Serve

CVE-2021-42298 HIGH
7.8 Nov 10

Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authent

CVE-2021-34464 HIGH
7.8 Jul 16

Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authent

CVE-2021-34522 HIGH
7.8 Jul 14

Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authent

CVE-2021-34471 HIGH
7.8 Aug 12

Microsoft Windows Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is l

CVE-2021-31985 HIGH
7.8 Jun 08

Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authent

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