Microsoft Windows COM Aggregate Marshaler Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (CVE-2017-0213)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTMultiple legacy Windows operating systems including Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016
A local attacker can execute a specially crafted application to elevate privileges to SYSTEM and gain full control of the target system
Apply the official Microsoft security patches immediately and restrict unnecessary DCOM/COM configurations
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the official Microsoft security updates. You can use PowerShell to query and install the required cumulative updates containing the fix.
# Install PSWindowsUpdate module and apply security updates
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force -Verbose
Get-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB4019264, KB4019215, KB4019472 -Install -AcceptAll -AutoReboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, mitigate the risk by disabling DCOM or hardening User Account Control (UAC) settings.
# Disable Distributed COM (DCOM) via Registry
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole' -Name 'EnableDCOM' -Value 'N'
# Enforce maximum UAC prompt behavior for administrators
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin' -Value 23. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Audit the system event logs for anomalous COM/DCOM errors or unauthorized privilege escalation attempts.
# Query System Event Logs for DCOM authorization errors (Event ID 10016)
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='System'; ProviderName='Microsoft-Windows-DistributedCOM'; Id=10016} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 10 | Format-Table TimeCreated, MessageBlock Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability exists in the Windows COM (Component Object Model) Aggregate Marshaler due to improper validation of object identities and permissions during the marshaling and unmarshaling of COM objects in memory. An attacker can exploit this design flaw to instantiate and control high-privilege (SYSTEM) COM objects from a low-privilege process context.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker initiates the exploit by constructing a specially crafted COM marshaling stream within a local session. By invoking APIs like CoUnmarshalInterface, the attacker forces a target high-privilege service to process the malicious stream. The Aggregate Marshaler fails to validate the interface pointers properly, allowing the attacker to hijack the execution flow and run arbitrary code under the SYSTEM security context.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As a highly critical vulnerability listed in the CISA KEV catalog with a high EPSS score, this flaw poses a severe threat. It is commonly chained with initial access vectors, enabling threat actors to perform Local Privilege Escalation (LPE), deploy ransomware, and execute lateral movement across the enterprise network.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Windows COM Aggregate Marshaler in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows an elevation privilege vulnerability when an attacker runs a specially crafted application, aka "Windows COM Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-0214.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2017-0213)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2017-0213 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2017-0213 is rated CVSS 7.3 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 84.3%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2017-0213?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across windows, windows_server. Scope summary: Windows Server 2008 SP2/R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012/R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 (Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703), Windows Server 2016
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2017-0213 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the official Microsoft security patches immediately and restrict unnecessary DCOM/COM configurations Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2017-0213
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
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