CVE-2018-8639: Microsoft Windows Win32k Improper Resource Shutdown or Release Vulnerability

High severity · published Dec 12, 2018

CVE-2018-8639

Microsoft Windows Win32k Improper Resource Shutdown or Release Vulnerability

RansomwareIn wildKEV

7.8

CVSS

22.2%

EPSS

Yes

On 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. 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:H

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges

Low

User interaction

None

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Scope

Unchanged

Exploitation

Is it being used?

Exploit prediction (EPSS)22.2% · higher than 98% of CVEs

Exploited in the wildYes

CISA KEVListed Mar 3, 2025

Federal remediation dueMar 24, 2025

Ransomware campaign useKnown

Affected products

Which versions

Windows · Microsoft

32-bit Systems; Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems; Version 1607 for x64-based Systems; Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems; Version 1703 for x64-based Systems; Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems; +9 more · source: vendor, KEV

Windows 10 Servers · Microsoft

version 1709 (Server Core Installation); version 1803 (Server Core Installation) · source: vendor

Windows 7 · Microsoft

32-bit Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 · source: vendor, NVD

Windows 8.1 · Microsoft

32-bit systems; x64-based systems · source: vendor, NVD

Windows RT 8.1 · Microsoft

Windows RT 8.1 · source: vendor, NVD

Windows Server 2008 · Microsoft

32-bit Systems Service Pack 2; 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation); Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2; x64-based Systems Service Pack 2; x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) · source: vendor, NVD

Windows Server 2008 R2 · Microsoft

Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) · source: vendor

Windows Server 2012 · Microsoft

(Server Core installation) · source: vendor, NVD

Windows Server 2012 R2 · Microsoft

(Server Core installation) · source: vendor

Windows Server 2016 · Microsoft

(Server Core installation) · source: vendor, NVD

Windows Server 2019 · Microsoft

(Server Core installation) · source: vendor, NVD

Windows 10 1507 · Microsoft

All versions, or not specified · source: NVD