---
title: "CVE-2017-8540: Out-of-bounds Write | CubePath"
description: "The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine running on Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Defender on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-8540
---

# CVE-2017-8540: Out-of-bounds Write | CubePath

## 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.

Official description from the CVE record, published by microsoft. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-8540)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 High 7.8

Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

| Metric                 | Value     | What it means                                                                             |
| ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Local     | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity      | Low       | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.                     |
| Privileges required    | None      | No account or privileges are needed.                                                      |
| User interaction       | Required  | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.             |
| Scope                  | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component.                                         |
| Confidentiality impact | High      | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                           |
| Integrity impact       | High      | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                                   |
| Availability impact    | High      | Serious or total effect on availability.                                                  |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.71874 (71.9% probability)

Percentile

99.4%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Mar 3, 2022

Federal due date

Mar 24, 2022

### CISA assessment as of Feb 10, 2025

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

no

Technical impact

total

### Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-787](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/787.html) Out-of-bounds Write

## Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

- Microsoft Corporation Malware Protection Engine

  - affected: 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, an

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/…](https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8540)
- [98703](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98703)  (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry
- [42088](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42088/)  (exploit-db.com) exploit
- [1038571](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038571)  (securitytracker.com) vdb-entry

## Timeline

1. ID reserved May 3, 2017
2. Record published May 26, 2017
3. Added to CISA KEV Mar 3, 2022
4. Record last updated Oct 21, 2025

## Look up another CVE

## About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

[Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection)

Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:33 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)