CVE-2018-8120
High 7.0 Exploited in the wild (KEV) Used in ransomware campaigns
Confirmed active exploitation — CISA KEV catalog
- Name
- Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Added to catalog
- Remediation due date (US federal)
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
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.
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.0 (HIGH)
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 73% (percentile: 99) as of 1 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-404
Affected products
microsoft: windows 7; microsoft: windows server 2008
References
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120 PatchVendor Advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120 PatchVendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45653/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45653/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104034 Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040849 Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104034 Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040849 Broken LinkThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018… US Government Resource