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CVE-2018-8406

Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

  • High 7.8
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 28 Mar 2022
  • Used in ransomware campaigns

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver improperly handles objects in memory, aka "DirectX Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8405.

Key facts

Published
15 Aug 2018
Last changed
21 Oct 2025
Assigned by
microsoft
KEV added
28 Mar 2022
KEV fix due
18 Apr 2022
Used in ransomware
Yes, according to CISA
EPSS
3.444% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 89.191% 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.

  • 7.8CVSS 3.1, Highfrom CISA (ADP container)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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 2016
  • (Server Core installation) (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10
  • 32-bit Systems (affected)
  • Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems (affected)
  • Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (affected)
  • Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems (affected)
  • Version 1703 for x64-based Systems (affected)
  • Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems (affected)
  • Version 1709 for x64-based Systems (affected)
  • Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems (affected)
  • Version 1803 for x64-based Systems (affected)
  • x64-based Systems (affected)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Servers
  • version 1709 (Server Core Installation) (affected)
  • version 1803 (Server Core Installation) (affected)

Timeline

  1. 15 Aug 2018 Published
  2. 28 Mar 2022 CVE-2018-8406 added to CISA KEV
  3. 28 Mar 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

Weakness

References