CVE-2018-8406
Microsoft Windows 10 1507
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
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 11% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
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 Data
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…
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unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8405.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 28 March 2022
Related Threats
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Contingency plan updates incorporate proper resource shutdown and release steps, preventing attackers from leveraging incomplete cleanup during recovery scenarios.
Mandates explicit shutdown of the network connection at session conclusion, directly addressing improper resource release.
Requires proper shutdown/release procedures that include overwriting or isolating data to block unintended transfer via reused system objects.
Procedures can mandate orderly shutdown or release of resources when failures occur, preventing improper resource handling after a fault.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
documenting procedures for secure operation, error handling, restart/recovery and resource management (including references to 8.13/8.18) is a governance and dependency control that does not itself stop exploitation of a resource-shutdown flaw; any prevention would require other controls (e.g. code changes or runtime enforcement) configured to act on it
Hardening callouts derived
DISA STIG baselines are authored against specific weaknesses. Where this CVE cites a broad weakness class, the mapping is not asserted at that abstraction (owner ruling, 2026-09-25: grade only at Base and below), so no rule is shown here rather than a rule shown against the wrong grain.
- No fine-grained STIG row for CWE-404, a class-level weakness, and none of its children carries one either.