HIGH KEV Used in ransomware campaigns ⚠
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers
Published Oct 10, 2018 ·Due Jul 21, 2022
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 70.04%
Description
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.
Affected products
-
- Version 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1607 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1607 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1703 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1703 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1709 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1709 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1803 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1803 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1809 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1809 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version version 1709 (Server Core Installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version version 1803 (Server Core Installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based Systems Service Pack 1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version 32-bit systemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based systemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version Windows RT 8.1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based Systems Service Pack 2StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based Systems Service Pack 1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version (Server Core installation)StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Windows 10 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows 10 Servers | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows 7 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows 8.1 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows RT 8.1 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | n/a |
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| Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | n/a |
|
OR
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
- r2
- n/a
- r2
- n/a
- n/a
No data.
No Red Hat product state for this CVE.
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
7.8 HIGH NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required None
User Interaction Required
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact High
Integrity Impact High
Availability Impact High
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
7.2 HIGH NVD
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Access Vector Local
Access Complexity Low
Authentication None
Confidentiality Impact Complete
Integrity Impact Complete
Availability Impact Complete
Listed in CISA KEV KEV Used in ransomware campaigns ⚠
Date Added
Jan 21, 2022
Patch Due
Jul 21, 2022
Required Action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
ActiveAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Feb 7, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
70.04% 0.70042
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
EPSS probability 0.70042
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (45 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 70.04% (0.70042) | 99.36th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 23, 2026 | 70.04% (0.70042) | 99.29th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 73.11% (0.73106) | 99.38th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 80.44% (0.80441) | 99.12th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 21, 2026 | 79.17% (0.79170) | 99.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 25, 2025 | 77.66% (0.77657) | 98.94th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 79.02% (0.79022) | 99.01th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 24, 2025 | 77.09% (0.77088) | 98.91th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 78.45% (0.78447) | 98.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 75.81% (0.75805) | 98.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 29, 2025 | 78.92% (0.78918) | 99.01th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 19, 2025 | 79.94% (0.79945) | 99.06th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 18, 2025 | 82.67% (0.82665) | 99.19th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jun 15, 2025 | 84.21% (0.84215) | 99.25th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 23, 2025 | 83.19% (0.83185) | 99.21th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 18, 2025 | 81.46% (0.81457) | 99.16th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 82.76% (0.82763) | 99.20th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 95.46% (0.95461) | 99.46th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 25, 2024 | 95.05% (0.95045) | 99.34th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 25, 2024 | 93.91% (0.93905) | 99.16th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 5, 2024 | 93.60% (0.93600) | 99.08th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 11, 2024 | 93.35% (0.93351) | 99.04th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 23, 2024 | 93.89% (0.93890) | 99.09th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 2, 2024 | 93.57% (0.93567) | 99.03th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 9, 2024 | 93.94% (0.93935) | 99.06th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Oct 22, 2023 | 94.69% (0.94694) | 99.00th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Oct 4, 2023 | 95.04% (0.95040) | 99.05th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 5, 2023 | 94.76% (0.94764) | 98.96th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 4, 2023 | 90.61% (0.90610) | 98.43th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 1, 2023 | 94.76% (0.94764) | 98.95th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 11, 2023 | 94.80% (0.94802) | 98.90th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 95.10% (0.95102) | 98.97th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 7, 2023 | 95.02% (0.95019) | 98.94th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 23, 2023 | 95.54% (0.95540) | 99.01th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 8, 2023 | 95.72% (0.95720) | 99.03th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 8, 2023 | 95.27% (0.95268) | 98.87th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 93.61% (0.93609) | 98.52th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 39.81% (0.39806) | 98.14th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 6, 2022 | 39.81% (0.39806) | 97.95th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 40.94% (0.40935) | 97.52th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 82.72% (0.82718) | 99.88th | v1 |
| Sep 16, 2021 | 82.72% (0.82718) | 99.94th | v1 |
| Sep 14, 2021 | 39.31% (0.39311) | 99.31th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 82.72% (0.82718) | 99.94th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 82.72% (0.82718) | 0.00th | v1 |
Weaknesses (0)
No CWE recorded.
References (6)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWindowFNID-Win32k-User-Callback.html x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105467 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041828 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453 x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory
- https://securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8453 government-resourceUS Government Resource
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWindowFNID-Win32k-User-Callback.html | x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105467 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041828 | vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453 | x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory | |
| https://securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack | x_refsource_MISCExploitTechnical DescriptionThird Party Advisory | |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8453 | government-resourceUS Government Resource |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.
Sources
CVE.org / MITRE
Status PUBLISHED
Assigner microsoft
Published Oct 10, 2018
Updated Aug 13, 2026
Reserved Mar 14, 2018
Link CVE-2018-8453
CISA Vulnrichment
Updated Feb 7, 2025