CVE-2017-0101
Microsoft Windows Transaction Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2017-0101 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows. A privilege escalation vulnerability exists when the Windows Transaction Manager improperly handles objects in memory. This vulnerability has been associated with ransomware campaigns, heightening its risk profile. CISA has added CVE-2017-0101 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 64.4% (98.4th percentile), this vulnerability has a very high probability of being exploited.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows 7 | - |
| microsoft | windows server 2008 | - |
| microsoft | windows vista | - |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96625(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038013(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2017-0101(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44479/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-0101(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer occurs when software performs operations on a memory buffer but can read from or write to a memory location that is outside the intended boundary of the buffer. This is the parent category for many specific buffer error types including buffer overflows (CWE-120), buffer underflows, out-of-bounds reads (CWE-125), and out-of-bounds writes (CWE-787). In the case of CVE-2017-0101, this weakness manifests in Microsoft Windows where a privilege escalation vulnerability exists when the Windows Transaction Manager improperly handles objects in memory.
Learn more: CWE-119 — Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
Impact Analysis
CVE-2017-0101 represents a significant threat to organizations using Microsoft Windows, carrying a CVSS score of 7.8. Successful exploitation can fully compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Attackers can access sensitive data, modify system configurations or data, and disrupt service availability. The documented association with ransomware campaigns makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as threat actors actively leverage it for initial access or privilege escalation in ransomware operations.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2017-0101 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming real-world exploitation. The EPSS score of 64.4% (98.4th percentile) places it among the most likely vulnerabilities to be exploited, reflecting widespread and active exploitation activity. Public exploit code is available, lowering the barrier for attackers and increasing the urgency to patch. This vulnerability has been linked to ransomware campaigns, indicating that well-resourced threat actors are actively incorporating it into their attack chains.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately as required by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Update Microsoft Windows to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability.
- Until the patch is applied, enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting local user access to only those who require it, and restrict the ability to execute untrusted applications on affected systems.
- Given the ransomware association, ensure endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions are active on all affected systems and monitor for indicators of compromise including unusual process execution, file encryption activity, and lateral movement.
- Verify the patch deployment across all instances of Microsoft Windows in your environment using vulnerability scanning to confirm no systems remain exposed.
- Review and update your organization's vulnerability management process to ensure CISA KEV entries with a remediation deadline of 2022-04-05 are addressed within the required timeframe.
Technical Details
CVE-2017-0101 is classified under CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) affecting Microsoft Windows. A privilege escalation vulnerability exists when the Windows Transaction Manager improperly handles objects in memory. The vulnerability is exploitable with local access to the target system, with low attack complexity, requiring no prior authentication, and requiring user interaction such as opening a malicious file or visiting a crafted webpage. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) reflects high confidentiality impact, high integrity impact, and high availability impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2017-0101 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2017-0101 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. The EPSS score of 64.4% (98.4th percentile) indicates a very high probability of exploitation. Public exploit code is available, further increasing the risk. This vulnerability has also been associated with ransomware campaigns.
What products are affected by CVE-2017-0101?
CVE-2017-0101 primarily affects Microsoft Windows, as well as Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista. Organizations should check whether any instances of the affected software are running in their environment.
How do I fix CVE-2017-0101?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Until the update is applied, limit local access privileges and monitor for suspicious activity on affected systems.
How severe is CVE-2017-0101?
CVE-2017-0101 has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, rated HIGH. This high severity rating indicates significant potential impact on affected systems. The association with ransomware campaigns further elevates the operational risk posed by this vulnerability.
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