# CVE-2024-38217: Microsoft Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) Protection Mechanism Failure Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-38217-microsoft-windows-mark-of-the-web-motw-protection-mechanism  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-09-10. Updated: 2026-05-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-38217 · Severity: critical · CVSS 5.4 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2024-09-10

Microsoft Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) contains a protection mechanism failure vulnerability that allows an attacker to bypass MOTW-based security features. Successful exploitation can result in a loss of integrity and availability for features like Protected View in Microsoft Office that rely on MOTW tagging. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-38217 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2024-38217 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 10 September 2024. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2024-38217?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 5.4, published 10 September 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows 10 1507, 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2; Microsoft Windows 11 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2; Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 23H2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-38217?** A patch was published on 2024-09-10. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2024-38217 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-38217?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows 10 1507, 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 23H2

## Timeline

- 2024-09-10: disclosed
- 2024-09-10: patched
- 2024-09-10: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2024-09-10: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild at time of publication.

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