Overview
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".
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-8540
Key Details
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2017-8540 |
| Vendor / Product | Microsoft — Malware Protection Engine |
| NVD Published | 2017-05-26 |
| NVD Last Modified | 2025-10-22 |
| CVSS 3.1 Score | 7.8 |
| CVSS 3.1 Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Severity | HIGH |
| CWE | CWE-787 |
| CISA KEV Added | 2022-03-03 |
| CISA KEV Deadline | 2022-03-24 |
| Known Ransomware Use | No |
CVSS 3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Required Action
CISA BOD 22-01 Deadline: 2022-03-24.
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022-03-03 | Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog |
| 2022-03-24 | CISA BOD 22-01 remediation deadline |
References
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
| NVD — CVE-2017-8540 | Vulnerability Database |
| CISA KEV Catalog Entry | US Government |