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HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Windows VBScript Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

IdentifiersCVE-2018-8174CWE-416

CVE-2018-8174 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Microsoft VBScript engine caused by improper handling of objects in memory. The issue affects supported Windows platforms including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, and 2016. The provided content identifies it as a Windows VBScript engine RCE and notes threat-actor use, including Cobalt Group exploitation and a BabyShark-associated server-side PHP exploit intended to trigger the flaw. Based on the description, exploitation occurs when the VBScript engine corrupts memory while processing crafted content, enabling attacker-controlled code execution.

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For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can result in remote code execution on the target system. An attacker can execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, which may permit malware installation, data access, persistence, and further post-compromise activity. The content specifically ties the vulnerability to operational use for execution by threat actors and suggests it was suitable for delivery of first-stage malware such as HTA-based payloads.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Until patching is complete, reduce exposure by limiting or disabling VBScript where operationally feasible, especially in Internet Explorer and related legacy scripting contexts; restrict use of Internet Explorer on untrusted content; enforce least-privilege so code runs without administrative rights; and use browser/application controls and endpoint protections to block malicious scripts and exploit delivery chains. User exposure to untrusted URLs and malicious document-based delivery should also be minimized.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the Microsoft security update addressing CVE-2018-8174 on all affected Windows systems. Prioritize internet-exposed and user-workstation assets that process web content or attacker-supplied documents/URLs. The supporting content also emphasizes identifying vulnerable assets and prioritizing remediation because this CVE has been widely exploited.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

4 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (4 hidden).

VALID 4 / 8 TOTALView more in app
CVE-2018-8174-msfMaturityPoCFrameworkmetasploitVerified exploit

This repository contains a Metasploit module (CVE-2018-8174.rb) and a malicious RTF template (CVE-2018-8174.rtf) for exploiting CVE-2018-8174, a VBScript memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Office Word (32-bit). The exploit works by generating a specially crafted RTF file that, when opened in a vulnerable version of Word, causes the application to fetch and execute a malicious HTML payload containing VBScript from an attacker-controlled HTTP server. The Metasploit module allows the operator to specify the filename and URI path for the exploit delivery, and embeds a customizable payload (such as a reverse shell) into the exploit. The README provides installation instructions and notes that the exploit is most reliable with non-staged reverse shell payloads. The main attack vector is via malicious file delivery (RTF), with a secondary network component (HTTP server hosting the payload). The exploit is operational and can be used to achieve code execution on unpatched systems.

0x09ALDisclosed May 22, 2018rubyrtffileformatnetwork
CVE-2018-8174_EXPMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python exploit script (CVE-2018-8174.py) targeting the Microsoft Internet Explorer VBScript Engine remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2018-8174, also known as Double Kill). The script generates a malicious RTF file and an HTML file containing shellcode that exploits the vulnerability. The attacker can specify a URL (where the HTML exploit will be hosted), an output RTF filename, and optionally an IP and port for a reverse shell payload. The README provides usage instructions, including how to host the exploit and set up a netcat listener to receive the reverse shell. The exploit is operational, allowing for customizable payload delivery and remote code execution on vulnerable Windows systems. The repository structure is simple, with one main Python exploit script and a README for instructions.

Yt1g3rDisclosed May 30, 2018pythonnetwork
cve-2018-8174_analysisMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a detailed analysis and a proof-of-concept (POC) exploit for CVE-2018-8174, a use-after-free vulnerability in the VBScript engine of Microsoft Internet Explorer. The repository consists of a README.md with an in-depth technical write-up and a single exploit script, analysis.vbs, written in VBScript. The exploit demonstrates how to trigger the vulnerability by manipulating VBScript class objects and memory, leading to type confusion and ultimately arbitrary code execution. The script includes routines to leak memory addresses, resolve function pointers for VirtualProtect and NtContinue, and construct the necessary structures to bypass DEP and execute shellcode. The payload is a placeholder shellcode, but the exploit structure allows for arbitrary shellcode execution. The attack vector is via the browser (Internet Explorer) or any environment that executes VBScript. No network endpoints or external IPs/domains are present; the exploit is self-contained and targets the local system via browser scripting. The repository is a valuable resource for understanding the exploitation process of this vulnerability and serves as a POC for researchers and defenders.

piotrflorczykDisclosed Jul 10, 2018vbscriptbrowser
CVE-2018-8174MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository is a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2018-8174, a remote code execution vulnerability in the VBScript engine as used by Internet Explorer, which can be triggered via Microsoft Word or WordPad. The repository contains four files: a LICENSE, a README.md with usage instructions, an index.html file containing obfuscated VBScript exploit code, and a Python script (msvbs.py) that generates a malicious RTF file embedding a link to the attacker's web server. The exploit works by having a victim open the crafted RTF file, which causes Word/WordPad to load the attacker's HTML (index.html) via an embedded OLE object. The VBScript in index.html exploits the vulnerability to execute shellcode, which downloads and runs Putty.exe from a remote site. The main fingerprintable endpoints are the attacker's web server URL (e.g., http://192.168.1.2:8080) and the reference to Putty.exe. The exploit is a POC and uses a static payload, but demonstrates full remote code execution capability.

SyFiDisclosed Jun 1, 2018pythonvbscriptnetworkfile
EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1607operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1703operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1709operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 10 1803operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 7operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows 8.1operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Rt 8.1operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2008operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2012operating_system
Microsoft CorporationWindows Server 2016operating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence6

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware4

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures2

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.