CVE-2018-8639 vulnerability in Microsoft Products
Published on December 12, 2018

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 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8641.

Vendor Advisory Vendor Advisory NVD

Known Exploited Vulnerability

This Microsoft Windows Win32k Improper Resource Shutdown or Release Vulnerability is part of CISA's list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities. 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.

The following remediation steps are recommended / required by March 24, 2025: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2018-8639 can be exploited with local system access, and requires small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. It has an exploitability score of 1.8 out of four. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.

Improper Resource Shutdown or Release

The program does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. When a resource is created or allocated, the developer is responsible for properly releasing the resource as well as accounting for all potential paths of expiration or invalidation, such as a set period of time or revocation.

Products Associated with CVE-2018-8639

You can be notified by stack.watch whenever vulnerabilities like CVE-2018-8639 are published in these products:

Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 8.1

Microsoft Windows Rt 8 1

Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Microsoft Windows Server 2012

Microsoft Windows Server 2016

Microsoft Windows Server 2019

Microsoft Windows 10 1703

Microsoft Windows 10 1709

Microsoft Windows 10 1803

Microsoft Windows 10 1507

What versions are vulnerable to CVE-2018-8639?