Vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10
CVE-2018-8639
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…
EPSS: 0.223 (97.4th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 — versions 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
- Microsoft Windows_10_1507
- Microsoft Windows_10_1607
- Microsoft Windows_10_1703
- Microsoft Windows_10_1709
- Microsoft Windows_10_1803
- Microsoft Windows_10_1809
- Microsoft Windows 10 Servers — versions version 1709 (Server Core Installation), version 1803 (Server Core Installation)
- Microsoft Windows 7 — versions 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows_7
Weakness classification (CWE)
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
This CVE is on the CISA KEV catalog, added on . CISA KEV inclusion means CISA has confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; US federal agencies are required to remediate within a published due date.
BOD 22-01 due date: .
Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Known ransomware campaign use: yes.
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- secure@microsoft.com (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry, Broken Link, x_refsource_BID)
- secure@microsoft.com (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 (US Government Resource)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2018-8639?
- CVE-2018-8639 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, classified under Improper Resource Shutdown or Release. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2018-12-12.
- How severe is CVE-2018-8639?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2018-8639 known to be exploited?
- Yes. CVE-2018-8639 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2025-03-03), indicating it is being actively exploited. 41 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed.