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CVE-2018-8120

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation

7.0 HIGHActively exploited (CISA KEV)Used in ransomwarePublic exploitEPSS 73.4%
  1. Published9 May 2018
  2. Added to CISA KEV15 Mar 2022
  3. Remediation due5 Apr 2022
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory.

Added to KEV: 15 Mar 2022Federal remediation due: 5 Apr 2022Used in ransomware

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.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorLocal
Attack complexityHigh
Privileges requiredLow
User interactionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Microsoft Windows 7all versions
Microsoft Windows Server 2008r2

Remediation

No fixed version is recorded in the NVD data. Check the vendor advisory for the latest guidance.

References

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2018-8120 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2018-8120 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 15 Mar 2022. It has been used in ransomware campaigns.

How severe is CVE-2018-8120?

CVE-2018-8120 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0, rated high. EPSS estimates a 73.4% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2018-8120?

Affected products include Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008.

How do I fix CVE-2018-8120?

Apply the vendor's patch or advisory guidance, then verify no affected versions remain across your devices.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2018-8120 against the real software inventory on every managed device, every day. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, Secuno flags any affected asset as top-priority automatically. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.