Windows VBScript Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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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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.
Mitigation
If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.
Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
4 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (4 hidden).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Affected products & vendors
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Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
Recent activity
8 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows VBScript engine listed among exploited CVEs.
A vulnerability in Internet Explorer’s legacy VBScript engine that was originally exploited as a zero-day and then broadly adopted by exploit kits.
A specific vulnerability (CVE-2018-8174) referenced as being abused in targeted attacks attributed to CactusPete activity; described as a recently discovered and patched vulnerability used via spear-phishing “magic” attachments to deliver payloads.
A specific vulnerability (CVE-2018-8174) referenced in the context of exploit-kit activity (Fallout EK) associated with MAZE ransomware distribution/operations.
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.