High 7.0Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published May 9, 2018

CVE-2018-8120An 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…

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 08:40 UTC)

Does this affect you?

It affects Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and 2 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

CISA lists it as known exploited since Mar 15, 2022; federal agencies had to remediate by Apr 5, 2022, and it is known to be used in ransomware. Treat that date as your deadline.

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Every CVE for Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Exploited in the last 30 days

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: 7.0 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-404
Known exploited: Added to CISA KEV Mar 15, 2022; federal remediation due Apr 5, 2022; known ransomware useApply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 73.29% (percentile 99)
Assigned by: microsoft
NVD analysis: Analyzed
Record last updated: Aug 13, 2026
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 microsoft:windows_server_2008 (from the name)	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)	CNA record
Microsoft Windows 7 microsoft:windows_7 (from the name)	32-bit Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1	CNA record
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 microsoft:windows_server_2008_r2 (from the name)	Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1; x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)	CNA record
microsoft windows_7 microsoft:windows_7	all versions	NVD
microsoft windows_server_2008 microsoft:windows_server_2008	all versions; r2; r2	NVD

References

https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45653/exploit, x-refsource-exploit-db, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040849vdb-entry, x-refsource-sectrack, broken-link, third-party-advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104034vdb-entry, x-refsource-bid, broken-link, third-party-advisory
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120x-refsource-confirm, patch, vendor-advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8120us-government-resource

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.