CVE-2017-8540 Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by sending a specially crafted file to the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 3 Mar 2022
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2017-8540?
CVE-2017-8540 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, published on 26 May 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
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.
Weakness: CWE-787
Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-8540?
It affects 9 products.
Products include Microsoft Endpoint Protection, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection, Microsoft Forefront Security, Microsoft Intune Endpoint Protection, Microsoft Malware Protection Engine and 3 more.
How do I fix CVE-2017-8540?
No fix has been published for CVE-2017-8540 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 24 Mar 2022.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2017-8540 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2017-8540 in the wild since at least 3 Mar 2022.
Public exploit code: 1 Exploit-DB entry.
Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server
- CVE-2021-24092 Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
- CVE-2017-8558 Memory corruption in Microsoft Malware Protection Engine
- CVE-2017-8535 Denial of service in Malware Protection Engine
- CVE-2017-8536 Denial of service in Malware Protection Engine
- CVE-2017-8537 Denial of service in Malware Protection Engine
Sources
Also known as GHSA-342q-x494-83vw.