CVE-2018-8589
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 13 June 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
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.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 3.02% probability · 87th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Listed 23 May 2022 · due 13 June 2022
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows server 2008
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 3.0% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8589
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8589US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.