Microsoft Windows Shell (.lnk) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Microsoft · Windows
A flaw in the Windows Shell component of Microsoft Windows (including Windows Server 2008 through 2016 and Windows 7 through 10 editions listed in the advisory) mishandles crafted .LNK shortcut files during icon display in Windows Explorer or any other application that parses a shortcut's icon. An attacker who can get a crafted .LNK file in front of a user, or onto a target system for a local user to open, can execute arbitrary code, and no authentication is needed, though the attack requires user interaction such as viewing the file.
Windows Shell in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows local users or remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .LNK file, which is not properly handled during icon display in Windows Explorer or any other application that parses the icon of the shortcut. aka "LNK 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 2 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) was available 16 months before disclosure.
- Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub16 mo before
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence2 days before
- Disclosedday 0
- Added to CISA KEVEU database agrees+5 yrs
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 11ExecutionTA0002
user opens crafted shortcut file
via a crafted .LNK file, which is not properly handled during icon display
Lower-confidence links (1)
These come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict this CVE’s details (for example a public-facing technique on a bug that needs a user to open a file). Shown for completeness.
- Malicious FileT1204.002 CTID attack_to_cve Phase 1 "Uncategorized" mapping (not staged by impact)
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-2017-8464 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