CVE-2018-8453

KEVRansomware UseMicrosoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft Windows Win32k contains a vulnerability that allows an attacker to escalate privileges.

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.

CVSS 3.1 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

PublishedOct 10, 2018

Last modifiedAug 13, 2026

Added to KEVJan 21, 2022

Remediation dueJul 21, 2022

References

packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWindowFNID-Win32k-User-Callback.htmlExploitThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com/bid/105467Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
securitytracker.com/id/1041828Broken LinkThird Party Advisory
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453PatchVendor Advisory
securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attackExploitTechnical Description
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8453US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · Critical

Actively exploited and used by ransomware crews. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1559 days
Ransomware: Used in known ransomware campaigns
CVSS: 7.8 HIGH
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 70.0% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: NVD-CWE-noinfo

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.
4.Verify offline/immutable backups and segment the affected systems. This flaw is used for ransomware initial access.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.