Is CVE-2018-8453 actively exploited?

Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks CVE-2018-8453 as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is confirmed.

What exploitation activity has KEV Intelligence observed?

KEV Intelligence has not yet recorded sensor-observed exploitation attempts for CVE-2018-8453. Our sensors continue to monitor for activity targeting this CVE.

Which versions are affected?

CVE-2018-8453 affects Microsoft Windows 7 and 10 other products. KEV Intelligence lists 31 version rows; examples include 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, and (Server Core installation).

Yes. CVE-2018-8453 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

CVE-2018-8453 Exploited in the Wild — 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

Decision summary

What security teams need to know first

Direct answers before the deeper technical record.

What it is

CVE-2018-8453 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows 7 and 10 other products. An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle...

Is it exploited?

Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is confirmed.

Who is affected?

Microsoft / Windows 7 32-bit systems service pack 1.

What should we do?

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

Overview

Windows 7

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.

Vendor Product Affected Status

Microsoft Windows 7 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 Affected

Microsoft Windows 7 x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows RT 8.1 Windows RT 8.1 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows 8.1 32-bit systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 8.1 x64-based systems Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 Affected

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 32-bit Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems Affected

Published: 10 Oct 2018
Exploitation Reported: 21 Jan 2022
Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges: None
User interaction: Required

CVE References

CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8453
1041828 securitytracker.com · VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041828
105467 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105467
securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack securelist.com · CVE Record https://securelist.com/cve-2018-8453-used-in-targeted-attack
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8453 portal.msrc.microsoft.com · CVE Record https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CV...
packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserSetWind... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153669/Microsoft-Windows-NtUserS...

Exploitation evidence

Why KEV Intelligence marks this CVE as exploited

Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.

Exploited in the wild

CISA

Recorded 21 Jan 2022

Independent exploitation attestation added to the KEV Intelligence record.

Used in malware

CISA

Recorded 21 Jan 2022

Malware families have been linked to exploitation of this CVE.

Proof of concept available

GitHub

Recorded 08 Jul 2019

Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEV Intelligence Pro API.

Learn about Pro API access

Source	Added
CISA First	2022-01-21 00:00 UTC
Tenable Blog	2026-06-02 14:20 UTC
CVE	2026-08-13 04:20 UTC

Detection

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.

Observed signals

Request targets: 0
User-Agents: 0

Raw values available in Pro and Enterprise.

Scanner coverage

Metasploit template detected 28 Apr 2025.

View Metasploit template

Virtual patch status

No KEV Intelligence virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.

Learn about virtual patches →

Scanner Artifacts

Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/cve_2018_8453_win32k_priv_esc.rb	28 Apr 2025

Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

7.8 High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

70.0%

Recent mention · Tenable Blog

Inside the customer environment: Where threat actors, vulnerabilities, and exposed assets intersect

Tenable Research has developed a graph-based model linking 600+ threat groups to real-world customer exposures. It reveals which vulnerabilities sit at the intersection of severity, active exploitation, and organizational risk.Key takeawaysThe "patch everything" strategy is...

Read full advisory

All CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 7.8 High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0 7.2 High

AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

cve_2018_8453_win32k_priv_esc

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2018-8453

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

13 Aug 2026
KEV confirmed by CVE

Exploitation attested by an external source
02 Jun 2026
KEV confirmed by Tenable Blog

Exploitation attested by an external source
28 Apr 2025
Metasploit module available

Exploit module available
28 Apr 2025
Public PoC available

Public proof-of-concept code published
21 Jan 2022
Added to CISA KEV

Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
21 Jan 2022
First public exploitation report

Exploit observed in malware
10 Oct 2018
CVE published

Vulnerability disclosed publicly
14 Mar 2018
CVE ID reserved

Identifier reserved by the CNA

Pro API

Automate this intelligence

Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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Evidence confidence and provenance
First-party sensor telemetry
PoC and scanner references
Affected versions and enrichment
Automation-ready JSON delivery

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2018-8453

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2018-8453",
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 7.8,
  "cvss_estimated": false,
  "epss_score": 0.70042,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}

CVE-2018-8453

What security teams need to know first

Windows 7

Tags

CVE References

Why KEV Intelligence marks this CVE as exploited

Exploited in the wild

Used in malware

Proof of concept available

Known exploited vulnerability sources

Operational artifacts and observed signals

Observed signals

Scanner coverage

Virtual patch status

Scanner Artifacts

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

Inside the customer environment: Where threat actors, vulnerabilities, and exposed assets intersect

All CVSS Scores

Potential Proof of Concepts

From disclosure to observed exploitation

KEV confirmed by CVE

KEV confirmed by Tenable Blog

Metasploit module available

Public PoC available

Added to CISA KEV

First public exploitation report

CVE published

CVE ID reserved

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