CVE-2018-8405: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-30T15:43:49.623Z. 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 when the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver improperly handles objects in memory, aka "DirectX Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8406.

• Context preserved from previous revision: 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 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8406. 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.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2018-8405
• KEV date added: Unknown
• KEV due date: Not specified
• NVD published: 2018-08-15
• NVD modified: 2025-10-28
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 7.8
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.8
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Local
• Attack complexity: Low
• Privileges required: Low
• User interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / windows 10 1507
• microsoft / windows 10 1607
• microsoft / windows 10 1703
• microsoft / windows 10 1709
• microsoft / windows 10 1803
• microsoft / windows 8.1
• microsoft / windows rt 8.1
• microsoft / windows server 1709
• microsoft / windows server 1803
• microsoft / windows server 2012 (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows server 2016
• Microsoft / Windows Server 2012 R2 (versions: (Server Core installation))
• Microsoft / Windows RT 8.1 (versions: Windows RT 8.1)
• Microsoft / Windows Server 2016 (versions: (Server Core installation))
• Microsoft / Windows 8.1 (versions: 32-bit systems, x64-based systems)
• Microsoft / Windows 10 (versions: 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1607 for x64-based Systems, Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1703 for x64-based Systems, Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1709 for x64-based Systems, Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems, Version 1803 for x64-based Systems, x64-based Systems)
• Microsoft / Windows 10 Servers (versions: version 1709 (Server Core Installation), version 1803 (Server Core Installation))

Weakness Classification

• CWE-404
• Elevation of Privilege

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• 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.
• vincent-deng/veracode-container-security-finding-parser | stars: 2 | updated: 2026-03-14 | https://github.com/vincent-deng/veracode-container-security-finding-parser
  Notes: Map Vulnerabilities into Different Layers of the Container Image
• plzheheplztrying/cve_monitor | stars: 0 | updated: 2025-07-04 | https://github.com/plzheheplztrying/cve_monitor

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Ostorlab
• vincent-deng
• plzheheplztrying

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 10 1507 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-2018-8405
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-8405
• 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
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105011
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041461
• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8405
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8405
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
• Repository example: https://github.com/vincent-deng/veracode-container-security-finding-parser
• Repository example: https://github.com/plzheheplztrying/cve_monitor

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