CVE-2018-8406: Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Is it exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 28 Mar 2022, 1,321 days after the CVE record was published.
- How likely is exploitation in the next 30 days?
- 3.4%
EPSS score, percentile 89 of all scored records
- How severe?
- 7.8 High
CVSS v3.1 base score, from CISA's enrichment of the record
- What should I do?
Required action (CISA), due 18 Apr 2022: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
- Which versions are affected?
Affected: (Server Core installation); 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; version 1709 (Server Core Installation); version 1803 (Server Core Installation)
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
What to do
Required action, set by CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA due date for this action: 18 April 2022.
Advisories and patches
The CVE record links no vendor advisory, patch or mitigation.
Linked from CISA's catalog entry
Affected products and versions
As listed in the CVE record.
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | (Server Core installation) |
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | Version 1607 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | Version 1703 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | Version 1703 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | Version 1709 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | Version 1709 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | Version 1803 for 32-bit Systems |
| Affected | Version 1803 for x64-based Systems |
| Affected | x64-based Systems |
| Status | Versions |
|---|---|
| Affected | version 1709 (Server Core Installation) |
| Affected | version 1803 (Server Core Installation) |
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
About this vulnerability
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver improperly handles objects in memory.
Summary: CISA's KEV catalog, as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA added CVE-2018-8406 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 28 Mar 2022.
- CISA marks it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- The due date CISA sets for the required action is 18 Apr 2022.
- The CVE record was published on 15 Aug 2018, 1,321 days before it was added to KEV.
- The CVE record carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (High), taken from CISA's enrichment of the record.
- FIRST's EPSS model puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.4% (percentile 89), as of 28 Oct 2026.
- CISA's SSVC assessment in the CVE record: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
Source: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, 2026.10.28, as of 28 Oct 2026; CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026; FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS), v2026.06.15, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Description
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 2016, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8400, CVE-2018-8401, CVE-2018-8405.
Source: CVE List V5 (CVE Program), cve_2026-10-28_0000Z, as of 28 Oct 2026. About the data.
Weakness
- CWE-404: Improper Resource Shutdown or Release
CWE and CAPEC are maintained by MITRE; the entries are those named in the CVE record and the KEV entry.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2018 | CVE record published |
| 28 Mar 2022 | Added to CISA KEV |
| 18 Apr 2022 | CISA due date for the required action |
| 21 Oct 2025 | CVE record last updated |
References
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