CVE-2018-8406
Published: 15 August 2018
Summary
CVE-2018-8406 is a high-severity Improper Resource Shutdown or Release (CWE-404) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1507. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 2.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and AC-3 (Access Enforcement).
Deeper analysis
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver due to improper handling of objects in memory. The issue, tracked as CVE-2018-8406 and assigned CWE-404, affects Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers, and Windows Server 2016. It is distinct from the related issues CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, and CVE-2018-8405. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8.
A local attacker with low privileges can exploit the flaw without user interaction to gain elevated rights on an affected system, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the local security boundary. Exploitation occurs through the affected kernel-mode driver component.
Microsoft has published guidance for the issue via its Security Response Center advisory, along with associated tracker entries on SecurityFocus and SecurityTracker. Administrators should consult these sources for available patches and recommended remediation steps.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2018-20044
Vulnerability details
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver improperly handles objects in memory, aka "DirectX Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is…
more
unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8405.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 28 March 2022
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires memory protection mechanisms that would block improper object handling in DXGKRNL.sys from being exploited for local privilege escalation.
Enforces access control decisions at the kernel boundary so that a low-privileged process cannot improperly manipulate DXGKRNL memory objects to obtain elevated rights.
Limits the privileges assigned to user processes, reducing the impact and feasibility of exploiting the DXGKRNL elevation-of-privilege flaw.