Cyber Resilience

CVE-2018-0986

Memory Safety in Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection 2012

Public PoCHigh EPSSMemory Safety
Published
04 April 2018
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.63 99.1th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2018-0986 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine does not properly scan a specially crafted file, leading to memory corruption, aka "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows Defender, Windows Intune Endpoint…

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Protection, Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft System Center, Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Executionconfidence: HIGH
Memory corruption in the malware scanning engine enables exploitation for client-side code execution when a crafted file is processed.
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: MEDIUM
Successful exploitation of the memory corruption can lead to privilege escalation on the endpoint.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2017-8540Same product: Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE-2019-0626Same product: Microsoft Windows 10
CVE-2015-2425Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2018-8174Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2017-0149Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2017-0222Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2018-8373Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2015-2419Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2015-2502Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2015-2387Same product: Microsoft Windows 7

Affected Assets

microsoft
exchange server
2013, 2016
microsoft
security essentials
all versions
microsoft
forefront endpoint protection 2010
all versions
microsoft
intune endpoint protection
all versions
microsoft
system center endpoint protection
2012, all versions
microsoft
windows defender
all versions

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-787

Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.

prevents

Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.

prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References