CVE-2018-8120 kev+ ransomware in the critical feed json
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k…
published 2018-05-09 8 y ago modified 2026-08-13 2 mo ago also EUVD-2018-19796
- cvss
- 7.0
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Exploited
- added 2022-03-15, used in ransomware
- epss
- 73.3%
- EPSS 73.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.4%
- public exploits
- 2
- Metasploit, Exploit-DB
Summary
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.
Patch / fix
cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Timeline
- 0-day patched (Project Zero)
- First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/windows/local/ms18_8120_win32k_privesc)
- Published
- CISA SSVC: exploitation active
- Added to CISA KEV
- CISA patch deadline
Known exploited
- Added
- 4 y ago
- Patch by
- 2022-04-05 (4 y ago)
- Ransomware
- Known to be used in ransomware campaigns
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Vendor, product
- Microsoft, Win32k
- CISA name
- Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Zero-day
Detected in real attacks while still unknown to the vendor and the public, per Google Project Zero's 0day In-the-Wild tracker.
- Patched
- 2018-05-08
- Details
- project zero tracker
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Active, exploited in the wild
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 4 y ago
Exploit prediction
73.29% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.4% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- Metasploit exploit/windows/local/ms18_8120_win32k_privesc Windows SetImeInfoEx Win32k NULL Pointer Dereference metasploit exploit, good rank, 2018-05-09
- EDB-45653 Microsoft Windows - SetImeInfoEx Win32k NULL Pointer Dereference (Metasploit) local, 2018-10-22
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA ADP | 3.1 | 7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 3.1 | 7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 7.2 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Microsoft Windows 7
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-404 Improper Resource Shutdown or Release
References
-
portal.msrc.microsoft.com
/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120
patch, vendor-advisory
-
exploit-db.com
/exploits/45653/
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
-
securitytracker.com
/id/1040849
vdb-entry, broken-link, third-party-advisory
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/104034
vdb-entry, broken-link, third-party-advisory
-
cisa.gov
/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8120
government-resource, us-government-resource
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2018-8120
- NVD CVE-2018-8120
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