SARA / Free Tools / CVE / CVE-2018-8589

CVE-2018-8589 — Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

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.

CVSS
EPSS
46.26% (top 2.40%)
CWE
Published
2018-11-14T01:00:00.000Z
Last modified
2025-10-21T23:45:47.156Z
CVSS vector
CISA KEV — Actively Exploited
Added to KEV
2022-05-23
BOD 22-01 due
2022-06-13
Ransomware use
Unknown

01What is this vulnerability?

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.

02Affected products

VendorProductVersions
MicrosoftWindows Server 200832-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)
MicrosoftWindows 732-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 R2Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)

03Active exploitation status

Yes — actively exploited. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2022-05-23. Ransomware use: Unknown.

04Recommended remediation

05Technical details

For the full vendor write-up, exploit chains, and reference implementations, see the references list in section 09.

06Detection signatures

Open the Sigma generator with a pre-filled prompt for this CVE to draft a starting detection in your stack of choice:

Open in Sigma generator →

07Related CVEs

No directly-cited follow-up CVEs in the KB record for this advisory. The references list in section 09 carries the vendor cross-references.

08Timeline

09References

Want this in your SOAR or SIEM?
SARA's API returns EPSS, CVSS, KEV, and an analyst-grade summary in one call.
Read the API reference →