CVE-2018-8453
Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
Published 10 Oct 2018 · updated 13 Aug 2026 · Analyzed
Exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 21 Jan 2022, with a remediation deadline of 21 Jul 2022 for US federal agencies. It has been used in ransomware campaigns.
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 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.
References
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWindowFNID-Win32k-User-Callback.html · Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/105467 · Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1041828 · Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453 · Patch, Vendor Advisory
- securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack · Exploit, Technical Description, Third Party Advisory
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8453 · US Government Resource