Background exploitation KEV catalog Ransomware
CVE-2018-8405

Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

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,…

CheckOps priority index
5.0/10 Patch within 7 days
Severity7.8
Probability0.3
Exploitation3/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 3.4% higher than 89.0% of CVEs
CVSS 3.1 7.8 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:
Exploited for 1,681 days 28 Mar 2022
CISA due date 18 Apr 2022 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

05010026 Sep05 Oct15 Oct24 Oct02 Nov
EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 3 / 5

  • KEV catalog (CISA)28 Mar 2022
  • Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)28 Mar 2022
  • Used by ransomwareyes
  • EPSS above 10 %3.4%
  • No account, over the networkno

What to do

Fix

Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.

CISA guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Description ENISA EUVD

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.

Affected products

Windows 8.1Windows 10Windows RT 8.1Windows Server 2012 R2Windows Server 2016Windows 10 ServersDirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL)
Affected versions
  • 32-bit systems
  • Version 1709 for x64-based Systems
  • Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows RT 8.1
  • x64-based Systems
  • Version 1803 for x64-based Systems
  • Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
  • 32-bit Systems
  • Version 1703 for x64-based Systems
  • x64-based systems
  • Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems
  • Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems
Weaknesses (CWE)

Open source packages OSV

Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.

Timeline

  1. Published

  2. Exploitation reported (ENISA)

  3. Added to the KEV catalog

  4. CISA remediation due date

References

Other exploited vulnerabilities from the same vendor

  • CVE-2026-96951Microsoft Windows Command Injection Vulnerability
    5.6 · Actively exploited
  • CVE-2026-65660Microsoft SharePoint Code Injection Vulnerability
    5.0 · Actively exploited
  • CVE-2026-85880Microsoft Windows Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
    4.3 · Actively exploited
  • CVE-2026-81963Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability
    4.3 · Actively exploited
  • CVE-2019-1068Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
    7.0 · Actively exploited
  • CVE-2026-69836Microsoft Entra
    5.3 · Actively exploited

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Sources: CISA KEV · ENISA EUVD · FIRST EPSS · OSV. Public data aggregated by CheckOps, updated automatically. Source texts remain the property of their authors. All exploited vulnerabilities