CVE-2018-8414
Published: 15 August 2018
Summary
CVE-2018-8414 is a high-severity Improper Input Validation (CWE-20) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1703. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 0.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the Windows Shell when file paths are not properly validated. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2018-8414, affects Windows 10 and Windows 10 Server systems and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8. It is also identified under CWE-20 for improper input validation.
An attacker can exploit the issue over a network without authentication by supplying a crafted path that triggers code execution once a user interacts with the malicious content. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the target system.
Microsoft published an advisory at https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8414 along with related tracking entries on SecurityFocus and SecurityTracker that direct administrators to available updates and configuration guidance. No public details on observed in-the-wild exploitation are included in the provided references.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2018-20051
Vulnerability details
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Shell does not properly validate file paths, aka "Windows Shell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows 10 Servers, Windows 10.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 25 March 2022
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly enforces validation of file paths supplied to the Windows Shell, blocking the crafted inputs that trigger RCE under CVE-2018-8414.
Requires prompt application of Microsoft patches that correct the path-validation flaw in the Windows Shell.
Deploys malicious-code detection mechanisms that can intercept or alert on the payload executed after a successful path-traversal exploit.