Actively exploited · Published Nov 14, 2018 · Assigned by microsoft

CVE-2018-8589

High 7.8 Exploited

In plain English

A high-severity security flaw in Windows 7 from Microsoft. Attackers are actively exploiting it in the wild (listed by CISA on May 23, 2022). The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 3.0% (higher than 88% of all known vulnerabilities). Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.8High
Exploit odds (30 days)3.0%top 12.5% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildYesCISA KEV since May 23, 2022
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

CISA guidance

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Federal agencies must remediate by Jun 13, 2022.

Official description

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.

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 32-bit Systems Service Pack 232-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2x64-based Systems Service Pack 2x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1x64-based Systems Service Pack 1x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)

References