Is CVE-2018-8639 actively exploited?

Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks CVE-2018-8639 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-2018-8639. Our sensors continue to monitor for activity targeting this CVE.

Which versions are affected?

CVE-2018-8639 affects Microsoft Windows 7 and 10 other products. KEV Intelligence lists 34 version rows; examples include 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, and (Server Core installation).

Yes. CVE-2018-8639 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

CVE-2018-8639 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-2018-8639 is a 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 objects in memory, aka...

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.

This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8641.

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 ARM64-based Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems Affected

Published: 12 Dec 2018
Exploitation Reported: 03 Mar 2025
Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges: Low
User interaction: None

CVE References

CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8639
106093 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106093
portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8639 portal.msrc.microsoft.com · CVE Record https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CV...

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 03 Mar 2025

Independent exploitation attestation added to the KEV Intelligence record.

Used in malware

CISA

Recorded 03 Mar 2025

Malware families have been linked to exploitation of this CVE.

Known exploited vulnerability sources

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

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Source	Added
CISA First	2025-03-03 00:00 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

Nessus template detected 02 Jun 2025.

View Nessus 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
Nessus	https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/119591	02 Jun 2025

Risk and context

Severity, weaknesses, and research context

CVSS v3.1

7.8 High

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

EPSS

22.2%

Weaknesses

Improper Resource Shutdown or Release CWE-404

All CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 7.8 High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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

Timeline

From disclosure to observed exploitation

02 Jun 2025
Nessus plugin available

Scanner coverage available
03 Mar 2025
Added to CISA KEV

Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
03 Mar 2025
First public exploitation report

Exploit observed in malware
12 Dec 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-2018-8639

Free JSON includes basic KEV fields

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2018-8639",
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 7.8,
  "cvss_estimated": false,
  "epss_score": 0.22179,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}

CVE-2018-8639