Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

HIGH 7.0EXPLOITED (CISA KEV)CVE-2018-8120 · Published 09/05/2018 · updated 13/08/2026

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. Actively exploited: CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 15/03/2022. Patch affected systems as an emergency. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

Package	Affected versions	Patched versions
Win32k Microsoft	Versions not published yet (product named by CISA KEV)

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.

References

securityfocus.com/bid/104034 · Broken Link
securitytracker.com/id/1040849 · Broken Link
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120 · Patch
exploit-db.com/exploits/45653 · Exploit
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog · US Government Resource
CISA KEV · CVE-2018-8120

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