Is CVE-2017-3898 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available for CVE-2017-3898, but active exploitation has not been confirmed.

Can CVE-2017-3898 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2017-3898 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-3898?

CVE-2017-3898 has a CVSS score of 5.9 (MEDIUM).

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MEDIUMPOC

CVE-2017-3898

CWE-20Published: September 1, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

5.9

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

A man-in-the-middle attack vulnerability in the non-certificate-based authentication mechanism in McAfee LiveSafe (MLS) versions prior to 16.0.3 allows network attackers to modify the Windows registry value associated with the McAfee update via the HTTP backend-response.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2017-3898 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in full integrity compromise (data manipulation), with a CVSS base score of 5.9.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2017-3898. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.