High 7.8Known exploited (CISA KEV)Published Nov 14, 2018

CVE-2018-8589An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Win32k.sys, aka "Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2008, Window…

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 07:50 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 May 23, 2022; federal agencies had to remediate by Jun 13, 2022. 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 when Windows improperly handles calls to Win32k.sys, aka "Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2.

CVSS: 7.8 HIGH (v3.1, CISA ADP)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): Not given
Known exploited: Added to CISA KEV May 23, 2022; federal remediation due Jun 13, 2022Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 3.02% (percentile 87)
Assigned by: microsoft
NVD analysis: Analyzed
Record last updated: Oct 21, 2025
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

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796vdb-entry, x-refsource-bid, broken-link, third-party-advisory
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140vdb-entry, x-refsource-sectrack, broken-link, third-party-advisory
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589x-refsource-confirm, patch, vendor-advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8589us-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.