November 13, 2026 Follow Egret
CVE-2018-8589 · CVE record: PUBLISHED

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2

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.

Exploitation evidence

Known exploited · CISA KEV listed

Added 2022-05-23. Ransomware campaign use: Unknown.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date: 2022-06-13. This is the catalog’s deadline, not an assessment of your organization’s exposure.

KEV checked 13 Nov 2026, 00:20 Jerusalem · Original catalog ↗

Reported products and versions

Microsoft / Windows Server 2008

Default status: Not specified

  • affected: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2
  • affected: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
  • affected: Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2
  • affected: x64-based Systems Service Pack 2
  • affected: x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)

Microsoft / Windows 7

Default status: Not specified

  • affected: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1
  • affected: x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

Microsoft / Windows Server 2008 R2

Default status: Not specified

  • affected: Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1
  • affected: x64-based Systems Service Pack 1
  • affected: x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)

Fixes and workarounds

No explicit solution text in the downloaded CVE record. Consult the vendor advisory; unaffected version ranges are shown above as reported, not inferred as a patch recommendation.

Sources and related reporting

CVE Program record ↗ · Download tracked evidence as JSON

Observed change timeline

History begins when Egret first downloads each source. It is not the complete upstream CVE history.

12 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-12",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87648
}
10 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-10",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.8757
}
09 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-09",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87554
}
08 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-08",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87547
}
07 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-07",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87538
}
06 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-06",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87519
}
06 Nov 2026, 12:20 Jerusalem · CVE Program record changed

Stored CNA snapshot at this observation.

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-05T07:02:25.739Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "name": "105796",
            "tags": [
              "vdb-entry",
              "x_refsource_BID",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796"
          },
          {
            "name": "1042140",
            "tags": [
              "vdb-entry",
              "x_refsource_SECTRACK",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_CONFIRM",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      },
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "cvssV3_1": {
              "attackComplexity": "LOW",
              "attackVector": "LOCAL",
              "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
              "baseScore": 7.8,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
              "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
              "version": "3.1"
            }
          },
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2018-8589",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "active"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2025-02-07T16:23:58.282862Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          },
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "dateAdded": "2022-05-23",
                "reference": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8589"
              },
              "type": "kev"
            }
          }
        ],
        "problemTypes": [
          {
            "descriptions": [
              {
                "description": "CWE-noinfo Not enough information",
                "lang": "en",
                "type": "CWE"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2025-10-21T23:45:47.156Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "government-resource"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8589"
          }
        ],
        "timeline": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "time": "2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z",
            "value": "CVE-2018-8589 added to CISA KEV"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Windows Server 2008",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 2"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "product": "Windows 7",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "product": "Windows Server 2008 R2",
          "vendor": "Microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "datePublic": "2018-11-13T00:00:00.000Z",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "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."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "Elevation of Privilege",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2018-11-15T10:57:01.000Z",
        "orgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8",
        "shortName": "microsoft"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "105796",
          "tags": [
            "vdb-entry",
            "x_refsource_BID"
          ],
          "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796"
        },
        {
          "name": "1042140",
          "tags": [
            "vdb-entry",
            "x_refsource_SECTRACK"
          ],
          "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589"
        }
      ],
      "x_legacyV4Record": {
        "CVE_data_meta": {
          "ASSIGNER": "secure@microsoft.com",
          "ID": "CVE-2018-8589",
          "STATE": "PUBLIC"
        },
        "affects": {
          "vendor": {
            "vendor_data": [
              {
                "product": {
                  "product_data": [
                    {
                      "product_name": "Windows Server 2008",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_value": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 2"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 2"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    },
                    {
                      "product_name": "Windows 7",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_value": "32-bit Systems Service Pack 1"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    },
                    {
                      "product_name": "Windows Server 2008 R2",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_value": "Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1"
                          },
                          {
                            "version_value": "x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation)"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    }
                  ]
                },
                "vendor_name": "Microsoft"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "data_format": "MITRE",
        "data_type": "CVE",
        "data_version": "4.0",
        "description": {
          "description_data": [
            {
              "lang": "eng",
              "value": "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."
            }
          ]
        },
        "problemtype": {
          "problemtype_data": [
            {
              "description": [
                {
                  "lang": "eng",
                  "value": "Elevation of Privilege"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "references": {
          "reference_data": [
            {
              "name": "105796",
              "refsource": "BID",
              "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105796"
            },
            {
              "name": "1042140",
              "refsource": "SECTRACK",
              "url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1042140"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589",
              "refsource": "CONFIRM",
              "url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8589"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8",
    "assignerShortName": "microsoft",
    "cveId": "CVE-2018-8589",
    "datePublished": "2018-11-14T01:00:00.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2018-03-14T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2025-10-21T23:45:47.156Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1"
}
05 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-05",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87508
}
04 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-04",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87496
}
03 Nov 2026, 18:20 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-03",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.87476
}
03 Nov 2026, 02:22 Jerusalem · EPSS observation updated

Stored EPSS snapshot at this observation.

{
  "date": "2026-11-02",
  "epss": 0.03023,
  "percentile": 0.8746
}
03 Nov 2026, 02:22 Jerusalem · CISA KEV status changed

Stored KEV snapshot at this observation.

{
  "cveID": "CVE-2018-8589",
  "cwes": [],
  "dateAdded": "2022-05-23",
  "dueDate": "2022-06-13",
  "forensicTriage": "No",
  "knownRansomwareCampaignUse": "Unknown",
  "notes": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8589",
  "product": "Win32k",
  "requiredAction": "Apply updates per vendor instructions.",
  "shortDescription": "A privilege escalation vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Win32k.sys. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run remote code in the security context of the local system.",
  "vendorProject": "Microsoft",
  "vulnerabilityName": "Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
}
Egret — Back to top Egret