Back to CVE records
High 7.8Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published Oct 10, 2018
CVE-2018-8453An 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 ()
Does this affect you?
It affects Microsoft Windows 7 and 18 other products. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.
CISA lists it as known exploited since Jan 21, 2022; federal agencies had to remediate by Jul 21, 2022, and it is known to be used in ransomware. Treat that date as your deadline.
Do this next
Start free and add your stack
Free account, 1 product
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.
- CVSS
- 7.8 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Weakness (CWE)
- Not given
- Known exploited
- Added to CISA KEV Jan 21, 2022; federal remediation due Jul 21, 2022; known ransomware useApply updates per vendor instructions.
- EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)
- 70.04% (percentile 99)
- Assigned by
- microsoft
- NVD analysis
- Analyzed
- Record last updated
- Aug 13, 2026
- First seen by InfoSec Signals
- Oct 9, 2026
Affected products
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 2012 R2 microsoft:windows_server_2012_r2 (from the name) | (Server Core installation) | CNA record |
Microsoft Windows RT 8.1 microsoft:windows_rt_8.1 (from the name) | Windows RT 8.1 | CNA record |
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 Server 2019 microsoft:windows_server_2019 (from the name) | (Server Core installation) | CNA record |
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 microsoft:windows_server_2012 (from the name) | (Server Core installation) | CNA record |
Microsoft Windows 8.1 microsoft:windows_8.1 (from the name) | 32-bit systems; x64-based systems | CNA record |
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 microsoft:windows_server_2016 (from the name) | (Server Core installation) | 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 10 microsoft:windows_10 (from the name) | 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; Version 1709 for x64-based Systems; Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems; and 4 more ranges | CNA record |
Microsoft Windows 10 Servers microsoft:windows_10_servers (from the name) | version 1709 (Server Core Installation); version 1803 (Server Core Installation) | CNA record |
microsoft windows_10_1507 microsoft:windows_10_1507 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_10_1607 microsoft:windows_10_1607 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_10_1703 microsoft:windows_10_1703 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_10_1709 microsoft:windows_10_1709 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_10_1803 microsoft:windows_10_1803 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_10_1809 microsoft:windows_10_1809 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_7 microsoft:windows_7 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_8.1 microsoft:windows_8.1 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_rt_8.1 microsoft:windows_rt_8.1 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_1709 microsoft:windows_server_1709 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_1803 microsoft:windows_server_1803 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_2008 microsoft:windows_server_2008 | all versions; r2 | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_2012 microsoft:windows_server_2012 | all versions; r2 | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_2016 microsoft:windows_server_2016 | all versions | NVD |
microsoft windows_server_2019 microsoft:windows_server_2019 | all versions | NVD |
References
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041828vdb-entry, x-refsource-sectrack, broken-link, third-party-advisory
- https://securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attackx-refsource-misc, exploit, technical-description, third-party-advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453x-refsource-confirm, patch, vendor-advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105467vdb-entry, x-refsource-bid, broken-link, third-party-advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWindowFNID-Win32k-User-Callback.htmlx-refsource-misc, exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8453us-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.