# Security Essentials vulnerabilities

> Security Essentials is made by Microsoft. We track 20 published vulnerabilities in it, across 1 version. 2 of them are on the list of flaws known to be exploited, the newest added on 3 March 2022. If you run Security Essentials, check your version against the exploited flaws below and patch those first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/security_essentials

## At a glance

- **Made by:** [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft)
- **Published vulnerabilities:** 20
- **Known to be exploited:** 2
- **Versions tracked:** 1
- **Most recently added to the known-exploited list:** [CVE-2017-8540](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-8540), 3 March 2022. We keep watching the list.

## Which Security Essentials vulnerabilities are being exploited?

2 flaws are on the government list of vulnerabilities known to be exploited, newest first:

- [CVE-2017-8540](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-8540): Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Improper Restriction of Operations Vulnerability. High, CVSS 7.8, chance of use in 30 days 72%, known exploited since 3 March 2022.
- [CVE-2021-1647](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2021-1647): Microsoft Defender Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. High, CVSS 7.8, chance of use in 30 days 39%, known exploited since 3 November 2021.

## Which Security Essentials flaws are most likely to be used?

Ranked by the latest exploit-likelihood forecast (the chance each flaw is used in an attack in the next 30 days):

- [CVE-2018-0986](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2018-0986): 63%, High (CVSS 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-1647](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2021-1647): 39%, High (CVSS 7.8), known exploited

## Questions

### How many vulnerabilities does Security Essentials have?

We track 20 published vulnerabilities listed under the name Security Essentials, across 1 version. The most recent Security Essentials flaw added to the known-exploited list is CVE-2017-8540, on 3 March 2022.

### Which Security Essentials vulnerabilities are being exploited?

2 are on the list of flaws known to be exploited. The most recently added are CVE-2017-8540 and CVE-2021-1647.

### How do I get alerts for Security Essentials?

Create a Precursor Intelligence account and track Security Essentials. We match it against every published flaw, give each one a risk score from 0 to 100 and keep watching, so you hear about new ones as soon as we know, by email, in the app or by webhook.

## Running Security Essentials?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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