Cyber Resilience

CVE-2018-8589

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD Exploited
Published
14 November 2018
Modified
28 October 2025
KEV Added
23 May 2022
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.030 86th percentile
Risk Priority 83 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2018-8589 is a high-severity an unspecified weakness vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 14% 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 Windows when the operating system improperly handles calls to the Win32k.sys kernel-mode driver. The issue, tracked as CVE-2018-8589, affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. It received a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8, reflecting local attack vector, low attack complexity, and low privileges required.

A local attacker with a low-privileged account can exploit the flaw to elevate privileges on an affected system, resulting in full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the target. No user interaction is required for successful exploitation.

Microsoft has published an advisory for CVE-2018-8589 at the listed portal URL, along with related tracking entries on SecurityFocus and SecurityTracker. No information on real-world exploitation or additional context is provided in the supplied references.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

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.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
23 May 2022

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2018-8120Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2019-1132Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2019-0808Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2017-0101Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2016-0040Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2015-1701Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2018-8397Same product: Microsoft Windows 7
CVE-2010-2568Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2015-1635Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2012-0151Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 7
all versions
microsoft
windows server 2008
all versions, r2

Mitigating Controls

No mitigating controls mapped yet. The per-CVE control annotator has not reached this CVE.

References