Overview
Microsoft Windows Win32k contains an improper resource shutdown or release vulnerability that allows for local, authenticated privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode.
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/en-US/advisory/CVE-2018-8639 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8639
Key Details
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2018-8639 |
| Vendor / Product | Microsoft — Windows |
| NVD Published | 2018-12-12 |
| NVD Last Modified | 2025-10-29 |
| CVSS 3.1 Score | 7.8 |
| CVSS 3.1 Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Severity | HIGH |
| CWE | CWE-404 |
| CISA KEV Added | 2025-03-03 |
| CISA KEV Deadline | 2025-03-24 |
| Known Ransomware Use | ⚠️ Yes |
CVSS 3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Required Action
CISA BOD 22-01 Deadline: 2025-03-24.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2025-03-03 | Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog |
| 2025-03-24 | CISA BOD 22-01 remediation deadline |
References
| Resource | Type |
|---|---|
| NVD — CVE-2018-8639 | Vulnerability Database |
| CISA KEV Catalog Entry | US Government |