⚠ Actively exploited in ransomware campaigns
This vulnerability is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list and has been used in known ransomware attacks. CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.. Due date: 2025-03-24.

CVE-2018-8639

CWE-4048 documents8 sources
Severity
7.8HIGH
EPSS
33.2%
top 3.10%
CISA KEV
KEVRansomware
Added 2025-03-03
Due 2025-03-24
Exploit
No known exploits
Timeline
PublishedDec 12
KEV addedMar 3
KEV dueMar 24
CISA Required Action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

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. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8641.

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitability: 1.8 | Impact: 5.9

Affected Packages12 packages

CVEListV5microsoft/windows_server_20085 versions+4
CVEListV5microsoft/windows_server_2012(Server Core installation)
CVEListV5microsoft/windows_server_2008_r2Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)+2
CVEListV5microsoft/windows_server_2012_r2(Server Core installation)
CVEListV5microsoft/windows_10_serversversion 1709 (Server Core Installation), version 1803 (Server Core Installation)+1

Patches

🔴Vulnerability Details

3
GHSA
GHSA-93mm-g479-2cx4: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation2022-05-13
CVEList
CVE-2018-8639: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation2018-12-12
VulnCheck
Microsoft Windows Win32k Improper Resource Shutdown or Release Vulnerability2018

📋Vendor Advisories

2
CISA
Microsoft Windows Win32k Improper Resource Shutdown or Release Vulnerability2025-03-03
Microsoft
Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability2018-12-11

🕵️Threat Intelligence

1
Bleepingcomputer
CISA tags Windows, Cisco vulnerabilities as actively exploited2025-03-03

💬Community

1
Bugzilla
CVE-2016-8639 foreman: Stored XSS via organization/location with HTML in name2016-11-09