CVE-2018-8256 [High] | RCE in Microsoft.powershell.archive

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when PowerShell improperly handles specially crafted files, aka "Microsoft PowerShell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows RT 8.1, PowerShell Core 6.0, Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive 1.2.2.0, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2019, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, PowerShell Core 6.1, Windows 10 Servers, Windows 10, Windows 8.1.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2026-06-15	30.25%	22.64%	-7.61%
2	2026-05-31	31.28%	30.25%	-1.02%
3	2026-05-02	—	31.28%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2026-06-15

30.25%

22.64%

-7.61%

2026-05-31

31.28%

30.25%

-1.02%

2026-05-02

—

31.28%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
8.8	3.0	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:R) A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land. 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.	2.8	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

8.8

3.0

HIGH

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:L): Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:R): A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
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.

2.8

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-2018-8256

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
microsoft	microsoft.powershell.archive	1.2.2.0	cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:microsoft.powershell.archive:1.2.2.0:::::::*
microsoft	powershell_core	6.0	cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:powershell_core:6.0:::::::*
microsoft	powershell_core	6.1	cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:powershell_core:6.1:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:-:::::::*
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_10	1709	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1709:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	1803	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1803:::::::*
microsoft	windows_10	1809	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10:1809:::::::*
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	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:-:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2016	1709	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1709:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2016	1803	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:1803:::::::*
microsoft	windows_server_2019	—	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:-:::::::*

References for CVE-2018-8256

URL	Tags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105781	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042108	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8256	Patch Vendor Advisory

URL

CVE-2018-8256

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2018-8256

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2018-8256

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2018-8256

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2018-8256

References for CVE-2018-8256