CVE-2018-8120: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-31T21:21:54.269Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8124, CVE-2018-8164, CVE-2018-8166.

• Context preserved from previous revision: An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in memory, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8124, CVE-2018-8164, CVE-2018-8166. 1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2018-8120
• KEV date added: 2022-03-15
• KEV due date: 2022-04-05
• NVD published: 2018-05-09
• NVD modified: 2025-10-28
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 7
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Local
• Attack complexity: High
• Privileges required: Low
• User interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / windows 7
• microsoft / windows server 2008
• microsoft / windows server 2008 (versions: r2)
• Microsoft / Windows Server 2008 (versions: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation), Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation))
• Microsoft / Windows 7 (versions: 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1)
• Microsoft / Windows Server 2008 R2 (versions: Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation))

Weakness Classification

• CWE-404
• Elevation of Privilege

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• Mr-xn/Penetration_Testing_POC | stars: 7291 | updated: 2026-03-31 | https://github.com/Mr-xn/Penetration_Testing_POC
  Notes: 渗透测试有关的POC、EXP、脚本、提权、小工具等---About penetration-testing python-script poc getshell csrf xss cms php-getshell domainmod-xss csrf-webshell cobub-razor cve rce sql sql-poc poc-exp bypass oa-getshell cve-cms
• GhostTroops/TOP | stars: 721 | updated: 2026-03-31 | https://github.com/GhostTroops/TOP
  Notes: TOP All bugbounty pentesting CVE-2023- POC Exp RCE example payload Things
• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Win32k
• Mr-xn
• GhostTroops
• Ostorlab

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Create low-privilege users on microsoft / windows 7 and validate that patching blocks unauthorized admin-level actions.
4. Compare token/privilege transitions in Windows Event Logs before and after remediation.
5. Tune detections for unusual group membership changes and SYSTEM-level process launches from user sessions.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8120
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8120
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8120
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104034
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040849
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8120
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45653/
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8120
• Repository example: https://github.com/Mr-xn/Penetration_Testing_POC
• Repository example: https://github.com/GhostTroops/TOP
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.