CVE-2018-8611
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2
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-2018-8611 is a high-severity Improper Resource Shutdown or Release (CWE-404) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 9% 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.
CVE-2018-8611 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows kernel that arises when the kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. It affects a wide range of Windows client and server versions, including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019.
A local attacker with low privileges can exploit the flaw without user interaction to obtain full elevation of privilege on the affected system, resulting in complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability as reflected in its CVSS 7.8 score.
Microsoft has published guidance and patches through its Security Response Center advisory for CVE-2018-8611. The vulnerability is also tracked in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming observed real-world exploitation.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2018-20226
Vulnerability Data
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server…
more
2019, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 24 May 2022
Related Threats
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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.