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CVE-2018-8589

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

  • High 7.8
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 23 May 2022

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Win32k.sys, aka "Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2.

Key facts

Published
14 Nov 2018
Last changed
21 Oct 2025
Assigned by
microsoft
KEV added
23 May 2022
KEV fix due
13 Jun 2022
EPSS
3.023% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 87.671% 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 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. 14 Nov 2018 Published
  2. 23 May 2022 CVE-2018-8589 added to CISA KEV
  3. 23 May 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

References