Vulnerability Monitor

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CVE-2017-8540

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-2017-8541.

Security Impact Summary

This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8, requiring local system access to exploit with relatively low complexity though user interaction is required and does not require pre-existing privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 19 products from microsoft, from microsoft, from microsoft and 16 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.

Historical Context

First disclosed in 2017, this vulnerability was reported during a period defined by widespread IoT adoption challenges, mobile security concerns, and the emergence of advanced persistent threat (APT) techniques. Contemporary mitigation strategies focused on secure development practices and third-party component vetting.

Published

2017-05-26T20:29:00.427

Last Modified

2025-10-22T00:16:11.893

Status

Deferred

Source

[email protected]

Severity

CVSSv3.1: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSSv2 Vector

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Access Vector: NETWORK
Access Complexity: MEDIUM
Authentication: NONE
Confidentiality Impact: COMPLETE
Integrity Impact: COMPLETE
Availability Impact: COMPLETE

Exploitability Score

8.6

Impact Score

10.0

Weaknesses

Type: Primary
CWE-787
Type: Secondary
CWE-787

Affected Vendors & Products

Type	Vendor	Product	Version/Range	Vulnerable?
Application	microsoft	malware_protection_engine	< 1.1.13704.0	Yes
Operating System	microsoft	windows_10_1507	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_10_1511	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_10_1607	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_10_1703	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_7	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_8.1	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_rt_8.1	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_server_2008	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_server_2012	-	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2	No
Operating System	microsoft	windows_server_2016	-	No
Application	microsoft	endpoint_protection	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	exchange_server	2013	Yes
Application	microsoft	exchange_server	2016	Yes
Application	microsoft	forefront_endpoint_protection	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	forefront_endpoint_protection	2010	Yes
Application	microsoft	forefront_security	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	intune_endpoint_protection	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	security_essentials	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	system_center_endpoint_protection	-	Yes
Application	microsoft	windows_defender	-	Yes

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540 Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory ([email protected])
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry ([email protected])
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540 Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-8540 (134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0)

How SecUtils Interprets This CVE

SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For microsoft's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.