CVE-2017-8543

KEVMicrosoft Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows allows an attacker to take control of the affected system when Windows Search fails to handle objects in memory.

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".

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

PublishedJun 15, 2017

Last modifiedJun 17, 2026

Added to KEVMay 24, 2022

Remediation dueJun 14, 2022

References

securityfocus.com/bid/98824Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
securitytracker.com/id/1038667Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8543MitigationPatch
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-8543US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · Critical

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1595 days
CVSS: 9.8 CRITICAL
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 74.4% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: CWE-281
Attack vector: Network, remotely reachable
Preconditions: No privileges and no user interaction

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.