# CVE-2018-0744: Privilege escalation in Windows kernel

> A memory handling flaw in the Windows kernel allows attackers to elevate privileges to system level.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8476-xh7w-7xvv

## What is CVE-2018-0744?

CVE-2018-0744 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 4 Jan 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Windows kernel in Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703 and 1709, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server, version 1709 allows an elevation of privilege vulnerability due to the way objects are handled in memory, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability".

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-0744?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Server 2016.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-0744?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-0744 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-0744 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-0744 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows win32k - Using SetClassLong to Switch Between CS_CLASSDC and CS_OWNDC Corrupts DC Cache (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10

- [CVE-2015-2426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2426/): Microsoft Windows Adobe Type Manager Library Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/): Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation (medium 6.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1467/): Windows Hard Link Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-26424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26424/): Windows TCP/IP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-28476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28476/): Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-0744 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-0744 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 4 Jan 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-0744 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0744/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0744/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0744
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0744
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-0744

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0744/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.