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CVE-2017-8686: Microsoft Windows Server 2012: Memory corruption

CVE-2017-8686 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.8 and affects Microsoft Windows Server 2012. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

The Windows Server DHCP service in Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows Server 2016 allows an attacker to either run arbitrary code on the DHCP failover server or cause the DHCP service to become nonresponsive, due to a memory corruption vulnerability in the Windows Server DHCP service, aka "Windows DHCP Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.0 9.8: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it reads from or writes to a memory location outside the buffer's intended boundary.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012: all versions listed by NVD; r2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016: all versions listed by NVD

References