CVE-2018-8440KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

High · published September 13, 2018

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 7.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 97.2th percentile for exploit probability.

1649
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
19%
Percentile
97.2
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky privilege escalation in Windows could let attackers run amok like kids in a candy store! 🍭 Think of it as having a VIP pass that lets someone enter restricted areas at a concert without anyone checking their credentials — the Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) is supposed to enforce access, but in this case, it’s as if the bouncers took the night off! An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the same permissions as the most powerful users on the system. This could lead to an array of malicious actions, from stealing sensitive data to installing malware — a truly chilling scenario! 🔥

Put simply

Think of it as having a VIP pass that lets someone enter restricted areas at a concert without anyone checking their credentials — the Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC) is supposed to enforce access, but in this case, it’s as if the bouncers took the night off! This elevation of privilege vulnerability arises from improper handling of calls to the ALPC mechanism in Windows, which can be exploited by sending crafted requests that bypass security checks.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the same permissions as the most powerful users on the system. This could lead to an array of malicious actions, from stealing sensitive data to installing malware — a truly chilling scenario! 🔥 To protect your systems, ensure you apply the latest security updates for all affected Windows versions, including Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and various Server editions. Regularly review your security configurations to minimize potential risks, and educate users about safe practices to avoid exploitation. 🛡️ You've got this! With a few updates and vigilance, you can keep your systems secure and sound! 💪✨

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.18530 · 97.2th percentile
Published
2018-09-13T00:00Z
KEV added
2022-03-28 · due 2022-04-18
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 28 MAR 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Apr 18
    kev
  • 13 SEP 00:00Z
    An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC), aka "Windows ALPC Elevation of…
    cvelistv5