# CVE-2017-0039: Privilege escalation in Windows DLL

> Local attackers can gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code by exploiting improper DLL loading validation in Windows.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-crhq-jv39-3hgh

## What is CVE-2017-0039?

CVE-2017-0039 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008, published on 17 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 mishandle dynamic link library (DLL) loading, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Library Loading Input Validation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-0039?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-0039?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-0039 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-0039 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-0039 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Server 2008

- [CVE-2020-1350](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1350/): Microsoft Windows DNS Server Remote Code Execution (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1040](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1040/): Microsoft Hyper-V RemoteFX vGPU Remote Code Execution (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2011-1966](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1966/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-0239](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0239/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-0240](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0240/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-0039 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-0039 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008, published on 17 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-0039 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows Server 2008. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0039/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0039/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-0039
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-0039
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-0039

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0039/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.