A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine does not properly scan a specially crafted file, leading to memory corruption. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code in the security context of the LocalSystem account and take control of the system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

To exploit this vulnerability, a specially crafted file must be scanned by an affected version of the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine. There are many ways that an attacker could place a specially crafted file in a location that is scanned by the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine. For example, an attacker could use a website to deliver a specially crafted file to the victim's system that is scanned when the website is viewed by the user. An attacker could also deliver a specially crafted file via an email message or in an Instant Messenger message that is scanned when the file is opened. In addition, an attacker could take advantage of websites that accept or host user-provided content, to upload a specially crafted file to a shared location that is scanned by the Malware Protection Engine running on the hosting server.

If the affected antimalware software has real-time protection turned on, the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine will scan files automatically, leading to exploitation of the vulnerability when the specially crafted file is scanned. If real-time scanning is not enabled, the attacker would need to wait until a scheduled scan occurs in order for the vulnerability to be exploited. All systems running an affected version of antimalware software are primarily at risk.

The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the manner in which the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine scans specially crafted files.

Note: Typically, no action is required of enterprise administrators or end users to install updates for the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine, because the built-in mechanism for the automatic detection and deployment of updates will apply the update within 48 hours of release. The exact time frame depends on the software used, Internet connection, and infrastructure configuration.


Exploitability Assessment

The following table provides an exploitability assessment for this vulnerability at the time of original publication.

Publicly Disclosed	Exploited	Latest Software Release	Older Software Release	Denial of Service
No	No	2 - Exploitation Less Likely	2 - Exploitation Less Likely	Not Applicable

Affected Products

The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Product	Platform	Article	Download	Impact	Severity	Supersedence
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013				Remote Code Execution	Critical
Microsoft Exchange Server 2016				Remote Code Execution	Critical
Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010				Remote Code Execution	Critical
Microsoft Security Essentials				Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2012 R2			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1709 for 64-based Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server, version 1709 (Server Core Installation)			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 for x64-based Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1511 for 32-bit Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2016			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows RT 8.1			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2012			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Defender	Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems			Remote Code Execution	Critical
Windows Intune Endpoint Protection				Remote Code Execution	Critical

Mitigations

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Workarounds

Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability.

Read more: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en.../CVE-2018-0986

Posted By: Brink
03 Apr 2018