Windows 7
CVE-2018-8174
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V14 - Configuration Dependency management, component inventory
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 | High risk (EPSS 94.3%). VBScript exploitation through IE was a common APT attack vector. The exploit worked through IE directly or through Office documents that invoke IE's rendering engine for VBScript processing. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A malicious website or document contains VBScript that triggers the engine vulnerability. When rendered by IE or Office, the VBScript exploit gains code execution, downloads a second-stage payload, and installs a persistent backdoor. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 26, 2026
The Windows VBScript engine contains a remote code execution vulnerability in object handling that allows full system compromise through crafted web pages, exploited in the wild as a zero-day before the May 2018 patch.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
A remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows VBScript engine allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through Internet Explorer or Office documents containing crafted VBScript, exploited as a zero-day.
RemediationAI
Apply Microsoft security update. Disable VBScript in IE via registry or Group Policy. Restrict IE to trusted sites only. Use modern browsers that don't support VBScript.
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
The CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in the VBScript engine (vbscript.dll) is triggered when processing crafted VBScript code that manipulates object references. The exploit uses use-after-free techniques to gain arbitrary read/write primitives, enabling full code execution. Delivered through IE or Office documents embedding VBScript.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionNVD
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the VBScript engine handles objects in memory, aka "Windows VBScript Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2018-8174 presents notable security risk, a out-of-bounds write vulnerability rated CVSS 7.5. Exploitation could allow attackers to corrupt memory, crash the application, or potentially execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Enable ASLR and DEP where available; (2) Implement network segmentation; (3) Monitor for exploitation indicators.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
Exploit-DB
VulDB
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
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.
Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Windows MSHTML component contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious ActiveX
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Win32k.sys in Windows Server 2003, Vista, and Server 2008 allows local privilege escalation through a kernel-mode vulner
The SMBv1 server in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1; Windows 7 SP1; Windows 8.1; Windows
Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no auth
The Win32k kernel-mode driver in Windows Vista through Windows Server 2016 allows local privilege escalation, exploited
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in
Elevation of privilege in the Windows Win32k kernel-mode driver allows a local, low-privileged attacker to escalate to S
GitHub PoC