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 Dec 12, 2018 ·Due Mar 24, 2025
8.4
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 22.18%
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. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8641.
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 ARM64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1709 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1803 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1803 for ARM64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1803 for x64-based SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1809 for 32-bit SystemsStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version Version 1809 for ARM64-based 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 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | n/a |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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
- r2
- r2
- 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact High
Integrity Impact High
Availability Impact High
1 other source (CISA ADP) ▾
8.4 HIGH CISA ADP
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required None
User Interaction None
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
Mar 3, 2025
Patch Due
Mar 24, 2025
Required Action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
ActiveAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Mar 3, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
22.18% 0.22179
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
EPSS probability 0.22179
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 (44 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 22.18% (0.22179) | 97.61th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 22.35% (0.22349) | 97.38th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 31, 2026 | 33.19% (0.33186) | 96.99th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 7, 2026 | 34.87% (0.34867) | 97.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 28, 2026 | 36.49% (0.36491) | 97.14th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 34.87% (0.34867) | 97.03th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 11, 2026 | 32.26% (0.32255) | 96.83th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 21, 2026 | 29.39% (0.29386) | 96.55th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 14, 2026 | 31.88% (0.31879) | 96.69th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 17, 2025 | 34.90% (0.34897) | 96.86th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2025 | 40.06% (0.40063) | 97.17th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 10, 2025 | 34.33% (0.34334) | 96.82th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 36.06% (0.36062) | 96.92th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 32.43% (0.32434) | 96.66th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 23.22% (0.23220) | 95.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 32.34% (0.32345) | 96.62th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 22, 2025 | 36.16% (0.36164) | 96.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 17, 2025 | 28.60% (0.28596) | 96.37th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 31, 2025 | 27.52% (0.27520) | 96.22th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 30, 2025 | 29.07% (0.29068) | 96.38th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 27, 2025 | 20.48% (0.20478) | 95.17th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 23.67% (0.23668) | 95.53th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 34.44% (0.34444) | 95.34th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 23.67% (0.23668) | 95.52th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 27, 2025 | 34.44% (0.34444) | 96.42th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 25, 2025 | 23.67% (0.23668) | 95.49th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 20, 2025 | 13.11% (0.13106) | 93.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 20.75% (0.20749) | 94.89th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 18, 2025 | 9.42% (0.09421) | 92.25th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 11.44% (0.11443) | 93.04th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00066) | 31.35th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 12, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00066) | 29.19th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Aug 8, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00066) | 27.18th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 9, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00074) | 30.30th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 22, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00068) | 27.51th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.05% (0.00054) | 20.66th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.68% (0.01681) | 76.03th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 1.68% (0.01681) | 75.99th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.68% (0.01681) | 73.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.68% (0.01681) | 53.27th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 24.37% (0.24372) | 95.46th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 24.37% (0.24372) | 95.40th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 24.37% (0.24372) | 98.13th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 24.37% (0.24372) | 0.00th | v1 |
Weaknesses (1)
References (3)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106093 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8639 x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8639 government-resourceUS Government Resource
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106093 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8639 | x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory | |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8639 | government-resourceUS Government Resource |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.
Sources
CVE.org / MITRE
Status PUBLISHED
Assigner microsoft
Published Dec 12, 2018
Updated Oct 21, 2025
Reserved Mar 14, 2018
Link CVE-2018-8639
CISA Vulnrichment
Updated Mar 3, 2025