CVE-2018-8120

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k…

Browse: All 2018 CVEs · All vendors

CVSS score: 7.0 High
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA KEV: Yes — actively exploited (added 2022-03-15, remediation due 2022-04-05)
Ransomware: Known ransomware campaign use
Weakness (CWE): CWE-404
Published: 2018-05-09
Last modified: 2026-08-13
NVD status: Analyzed

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 Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8124, CVE-2018-8164, CVE-2018-8166.

Affected products

microsoft windows 7
microsoft windows server 2008

Affected ranges per NVD CPE data; confirm exact versions in the vendor advisory.

Required action (CISA)

Apply updates per vendor instructions. Federal remediation deadline: 2022-04-05.

How to prioritize this

This vulnerability is on the CISA KEV list, meaning it is being actively exploited — treat it as urgent regardless of the raw CVSS number. Use the live CVE lookup for the latest NVD data, and the CVSS 3.1 calculator to model your own environmental score. For the actively exploited vulnerabilities that matter this week, read The Exploit HQ daily security brief.

References

FAQ

Is CVE-2018-8120 actively exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2018-8120 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2022-03-15, with a federal remediation deadline of 2022-04-05. A KEV listing means real-world exploitation is confirmed, so patching this should be prioritized above many higher-CVSS bugs that aren't being exploited.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-8120?

CVE-2018-8120 has a CVSS base score of 7.0 (High). Its vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Related vulnerabilities

Data source: NVD & CISA KEV. Shown as-is; nothing added. Last generated from NVD data — re-check the live tool for updates.