What is CVE-2017-0073?A medium-severity flaw in Windows 10, explained.
CVE-2017-0073 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.3) in Windows 10 from Microsoft, published on 17 March 2017. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 33%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.
Published 17 March 2017. Record last updated 20 April 2025. We keep this page's data up to date.
What is CVE-2017-0073? In plain terms.
It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read some data.
The Graphics Device Interface (GDI) in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1; Windows 7 SP1; Windows 8.1; Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2; Windows RT 8.1; and Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted web site, aka "Windows GDI+ Information Disclosure Vulnerability." This vulnerability is different from those described in CVE-2017-0060 and CVE-2017-0062.
What kind of flaw is it?
- CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
How an attack on it works
Read straight from its severity rating, translated out of the shorthand.
- Where an attacker can beAnywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull offEasy: no special conditions
- Login needed firstNo login needed
- Does someone have to clickYes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker getsCan read some data
Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Is CVE-2017-0073 being exploited? Not that we know of.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 33%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
Timeline
- Published
- Record last updated
- Exploit likelihood jumped
CVE-2017-0073 scores 30. Action: Monitor.
We keep the score of every published flaw up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, and evidence that criminals are actually using it counts most. In order:
- Evidence it is being exploitedBiggest factor
- How severe it isStrong factor
- How widely exposed it isSmaller factor
- Threat activity around itSmaller factor
85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score.
When CVE-2017-0073 matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.
See your own ranked list →Who is affected by CVE-2017-0073? 14 products.
The published record lists 14 products from 1 vendor. If you run one of these, check your version, then go to the fix below.
- Operating system
Windows 10
by Microsoft
Affected versions15111607 - Application
Lync
by Microsoft
Affected versions20102013-sp1 - Application
Office
by Microsoft
Affected versions2007-sp32010-sp2 - Application
Live Meeting
by Microsoft
Affected versions2007 - Application
Office Word Viewer
by Microsoft
Affected versionsversion not specified - Application
Skype for Business
by Microsoft
Affected versions2016 - Application
Skype for Business Basic
by Microsoft
Affected versions2016 - Operating system
Windows 7
by Microsoft
Affected versionsversion not specified - Operating system
Windows 8.1
by Microsoft
Affected versionsversion not specified
How do I fix CVE-2017-0073? Four steps.
- Check whether you run itCompare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
- Apply the vendor’s fixInstall the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
- If you can’t patch todayFollow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
- Keep an eye on itTrack the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.
Does CVE-2017-0073 affect you? We'll keep checking.
Looking flaws up one at a time doesn't scale. Tell us what you run once, and we tell you which flaws matter to you, in what order, and keep watching for new ones.
- Tell us what you runPick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- We match it to every flawOver 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- Ranked by real-world riskA 0 to 100 score, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- Told as soon as we knowAn alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.
Free plan, no card needed. Nothing to install.
1 new flaw affects software Acme tracks
The Graphics Device Interface (GDI) in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1; Windows 7 SP1; Windows 8.1; Windows Server 2012 Gold ...
- Matched to
- Windows 10 on Acme's software list
- What to do
- Plan in the vendor’s update
Sent to the alert recipients Acme chose. Also in the app and to Acme's webhook.
CVE-2017-0073 is a medium-severity flaw in Windows 10 from Microsoft, published on 17 March 2017. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read some data.
It scores 4.3 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2017-0073 is 30 out of 100, which is Low. Its action is "Monitor". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 33%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
For Windows 10 from Microsoft: 1511, 1607. The record lists 14 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.
Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.