What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2018-8589: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: yes — in CISA KEV since 2022-05-23
• EPSS: 3.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2018-11-14 · updated 2026-06-17

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

• Microsoft Windows 7: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008: r2-sp1
• Microsoft Windows 7: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008: 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)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2: Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)

References

• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8589

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