Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITED (CISA KEV)CVE-2018-8453 · Published 10/10/2018 · updated 13/08/2026

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. Actively exploited: CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 21/01/2022. 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 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
securityfocus.com/bid/105467 · Broken Link
securitytracker.com/id/1041828 · Broken Link
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453 · Patch
securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack · Exploit
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog · US Government Resource
CISA KEV · CVE-2018-8453

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