Microsoft Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Microsoft · Windows
A flaw in the Media Center component of Microsoft Windows (Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1) is caused by improper input validation when processing Media Center link (.mcl) files. An attacker who can get a user to open a specially crafted .mcl file can execute arbitrary code, which requires user interaction and no prior authentication.
Media Center in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Media Center link (aka .mcl) file, aka "Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 1/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 5 years after disclosure. Public exploit code (Exploit-DB) appeared 1 day after disclosure.
- Disclosedday 0
- Public exploit codeExploit-DB+1 day
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2ExecutionTA0002
exploited media client executes attacker code
allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code
user opens crafted malicious file
via a crafted Media Center link (aka .mcl) file
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 39 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2016-0185 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Malicious LinkT1204.0014 general rules
- Symlink Etc Passwdhightest
- Potential ClickFix Execution Pattern - Registryhighexperimental
- Suspicious ClickFix/FileFix Execution Patternhighexperimental
- Suspicious Execution via macOS Script Editormediumtest
Exploitation for Client ExecutionT120335 general rules
- Antivirus - Exploitation Framework Signaturecriticalstable
- Droppers Exploiting CVE-2017-11882criticalstable
- Audit CVE Eventcriticaltest
- CVE-2021-31979 CVE-2021-33771 Exploitscriticaltest
- CVE-2021-31979 CVE-2021-33771 Exploits by Sourgumcriticaltest
- Exploit for CVE-2017-8759criticaltest
- Antivirus - APT Malware Signaturecriticalexperimental
- Antivirus - Remote Access Tools Signaturecriticalexperimental
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX