# CVE-2018-8544: Use after free in Windows 10

> Remote code execution via use-after-free in the Windows VBScript engine allows attackers to execute arbitrary code.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qr35-4r77-5h27

## What is CVE-2018-8544?

CVE-2018-8544 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Nov 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

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 2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-8544?

It affects 8 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-8544?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-8544 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-8544 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-8544 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VBScript - 'OLEAUT32!VariantClear' and 'scrrun!VBADictionary::put_Item' Use-After-Free (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10

- [CVE-2015-2426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2426/): Microsoft Windows Adobe Type Manager Library Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/): Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation (medium 6.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1467/): Windows Hard Link Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-26424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26424/): Windows TCP/IP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-28476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28476/): Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-8544 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-8544 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Nov 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-8544 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10. 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-2018-8544/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8544/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8544
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8544
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-8544

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8544/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.