CVE-2018-8440: Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2018-8440 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-28

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows when the system improperly handles calls to Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC). An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the security context of the local system.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2018-8440 exploited in the wild?
Yes. CVE-2018-8440 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 28 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.
How severe is CVE-2018-8440?
Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 28 March 2022.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1; Microsoft Windows 8.1; Microsoft Windows RT 8.1; Microsoft Windows 10 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803; and 3 more.
Is there a fix for CVE-2018-8440?
A patch was published on 2018-09-11: Microsoft released security updates Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2018-8440 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2018-8440?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows RT 8.1
  • Microsoft Windows 10 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, R2 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016 1709, 1803

Timeline

  • 2018-08-27: disclosed: Public disclosure of exploit code (0patch reference)
  • 2018-09-11: patched: Microsoft released security updates
  • 2022-03-28: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
  • 2022-03-28: exploited: Confirmed exploited in the wild per CISA KEV entry date

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