CVE-2017-8620 [High] | Memory Corruption in Windows 10

Windows Search in Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows a remote code execution vulnerability when it improperly handles objects in memory, aka "Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2025-11-21	71.57%	54.60%	-16.96%
2	2025-11-18	54.60%	71.57%	+16.96%
3	2025-09-02	—	54.60%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2025-11-21

71.57%

54.60%

-16.96%

2025-11-18

54.60%

71.57%

+16.96%

2025-09-02

—

54.60%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
8.1	3.0	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.2	5.9	[email protected]
9.3	2.0	HIGH	`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C` Click to expand Access vector (AV:N) Can be exploited remotely over network reachability. Access complexity (AC:M) Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones. Authentication (AU:N) No authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:C) Complete confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:C) Complete integrity impact. Availability impact (A:C) Complete availability impact.	8.6	10.0	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

8.1

3.0

HIGH

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H): Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.2

5.9

[email protected]

9.3

2.0

HIGH

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C Click to expand

Access vector (AV:N): Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M): Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:N): No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:C): Complete confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:C): Complete integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C): Complete availability impact.

8.6

10.0

[email protected]

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2017-8620

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
microsoft	windows_10	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	1511	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1511:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	1607	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1607:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	1703	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1703:::::::*
microsoft	windows_7	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1::::::
microsoft	windows_8.1	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_rt_8.1	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_rt_8.1:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2008	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2::::::
microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:::::itanium:*
microsoft	windows_server_2008	r2	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:::::x64:*
microsoft	windows_server_2012	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2016	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:-:::::::*

References for CVE-2017-8620

URL	Tags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100034	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039091	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-8620	Patch Vendor Advisory
https://threatpost.com/windows-search-bug-worth-watching-and-squashing/127434/	Third Party Advisory

URL

CVE-2017-8620

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2017-8620

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2017-8620

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2017-8620

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2017-8620

References for CVE-2017-8620