CVEs / CVE-2017-8543

CVE-2017-8543: Microsoft Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 24 May 2022
critical 9.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
EPSS 74.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
Last changed at its sources 17 Jun 2026

Are you affected? Check your servers with Stackurity: it lists the software on each server and the vulnerabilities to fix first.

Check your servers with Stackurity Already using Stackurity? Search for CVE-2017-8543

Summary

Microsoft Windows allows an attacker to take control of the affected system when Windows Search fails to handle objects in memory.
CISA, Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

Description

Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Windows XP x64 XP2, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allow an attacker to take control of the affected system when Windows Search fails to handle objects in memory, aka "Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".
The CVE record, via NVD · published 15 Jun 2017 · NVD status: Analyzed

Affected and fixed versions

As stated by the CVE record (from the CNA)
Product	Affected	Fixed in
Microsoft Corporation Microsoft Windows	Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Windows XP x64 XP2, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016.	—

Exploitation

In CISA KEV since	24 May 2022
Due date for US federal agencies	14 Jun 2022
Used in ransomware campaigns	Unknown
Required action	Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Severity

CVSS 3.1	9.8 critical `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Scored by NVD
Weakness	CWE-281

References

CVE-2017-8543 on NVD
CVE-2017-8543 in the CISA KEV catalog
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98824 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038667 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8543 Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-8543 US Government Resource

Sources

Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.

This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.