CVE-2018-8544

HIGH

Windows VBScript Engine - Remote Code Execution via Use-After-Free

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2018-8544. PoCs published by Google Security Research.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft VBScript (CVE-2018-8544) by manipulating a Scripting.Dictionary object and triggering a crash in OLEAUT32!VariantClear. The PoC leverages a class destructor to free memory while a variant is still being accessed, leading to a memory corruption condition.

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 2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · htmldoswindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45923

This exploit demonstrates a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft VBScript (CVE-2018-8544) by manipulating a Scripting.Dictionary object and triggering a crash in OLEAUT32!VariantClear. The PoC leverages a class destructor to free memory while a variant is still being accessed, leading to a memory corruption condition.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Internet Explorer with VBScript (Windows 7 with latest patches)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Internet Explorer with VBScript enabled · Page Heap may need to be enabled to observe the crash
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042118
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105787
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45923/

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.7417
EPSS Percentile 98.9%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (17)
microsoft/windows_10
microsoft/windows_10 1607
microsoft/windows_10 1703
microsoft/windows_10 1709
microsoft/windows_10 1803
microsoft/windows_10 1809
microsoft/windows_7
microsoft/windows_8.1
microsoft/windows_rt_8.1
microsoft/windows_server_2008
... and 7 more
Published Nov 14, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026