---
id: "CVE-2018-8120"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2018-8120"]
title: "Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.2
epss: 0.73288
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Win32k", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "ransomware", "self-hosted", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["patched-systems"]
published_at: "2018-05-09T19:29:01+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-8120", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-8120", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8120", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows Win32k kernel component mishandles objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation. An attacker with code running on the machine can gain SYSTEM-level control.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Win32k affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2018-8120 per vendor instructions (CISA KEV required action).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-8120
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-8120
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8120

## From the sources

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.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_