# CVE-2017-8710: XML external entity in Microsoft Common Console Document (.msc)

> An attacker can read arbitrary files on Windows systems by exploiting an XML External Entity vulnerability in the Microsoft Common Console Document parser.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** 13 Sep 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v2hx-p2cq-5wm5

## What is CVE-2017-8710?

CVE-2017-8710 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 13 Sep 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 Common Console Document (.msc) in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1 allows an attacker to read arbitrary files via an XML external entity (XXE) declaration, due to the way that the Microsoft Common Console Document (.msc) parses XML input containing a reference to an external entity, aka "Windows Information Disclosure Vulnerability".

Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-8710?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-8710?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-8710 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-8710 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-8710 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 7

- [CVE-2015-1635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1635/): Microsoft HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2360/): Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6324/): Microsoft Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6332/): Microsoft Windows Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) Automation Array Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-4148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4148/): Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-8710 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-8710 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 13 Sep 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-2017-8710 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 7. 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-2017-8710/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8710/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-8710
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8710
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-8710

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8710/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.