CVE-2018-8611VulnerabilityPublished 05/24/2022Updated 10/24/2026

CVE-2018-8611: Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Affects Microsoft WindowsSource CISA KEV

Severity

High

No CVSS score published yet

Exploitation: Actively exploited – in CISA KEV since 05/24/2022
KEV deadline: 06/14/2022
EPSS: 4.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 90% of CVEs

What to do

CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-8611 (opens in a new tab)

Description

CVE-2018-8611 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows kernel caused by improper handling of objects in memory. This flaw allows attackers to elevate privileges on affected systems. It has been exploited in the wild, indicating active use by threat actors. No specific affected Windows versions or patch information is provided in the available data.

Summary

This vulnerability arises from the Windows kernel's failure to properly handle objects in memory, leading to a privilege escalation condition. Exploitation enables attackers to gain higher-level privileges than intended, potentially compromising system security. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2018-8611 and has been observed in active exploitation scenarios.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to escalate privileges on affected Windows systems, potentially leading to full system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The presence of known exploits in the wild confirms the practical risk posed by this flaw.

Mitigation

Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Since no patch or official fix information is provided, users should monitor Microsoft security advisories for updates and apply any released patches promptly.

Weaknesses

CWE-404Unclassified weakness (opens in a new tab)

What to do

Description

AnalysisAI-generated, updated 10/24/2026, 11:42:49 UTC

Weaknesses

References

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