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CVE-2018-8120

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

  • High 7.0
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 15 Mar 2022
  • Used in ransomware campaigns
  • A public exploit reference is listed

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 Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8124, CVE-2018-8164, CVE-2018-8166.

Key facts

Published
9 May 2018
Last changed
13 Aug 2026
Assigned by
microsoft
KEV added
15 Mar 2022
KEV fix due
5 Apr 2022
Used in ransomware
Yes, according to CISA
EPSS
73.288% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.468% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA)
Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

  • 7.0CVSS 3.1, Highfrom CISA (ADP container)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What to do

  • Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008
  • 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (affected)
  • 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (affected)
  • Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2 (affected)
  • x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (affected)
  • x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 7
  • 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (affected)
  • x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (affected)
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2
  • Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1 (affected)
  • x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (affected)
  • x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (affected)

Timeline

  1. 9 May 2018 Published
  2. 15 Mar 2022 CVE-2018-8120 added to CISA KEV
  3. 15 Mar 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

Weakness

References