CVE-2018-8440 Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation

Exploited in the wild High 7.8 Published 13 Sep 2018 Updated 21 Oct 2025

Attackers can exploit improper ALPC handling in Windows to elevate privileges, requiring OS patches.

Exploited in the wild: Since 28 Mar 2022
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2018-8440?

CVE-2018-8440 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1607, published on 13 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Windows improperly handles calls to Advanced Local Procedure Call (ALPC), aka "Windows ALPC Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers.

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-8440?

It affects 10 products.

Products include Microsoft Windows 10 1607, Microsoft Windows 10 1703, Microsoft Windows 10 1709, Microsoft Windows 10 1803, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8.1 and 4 more.

How do I fix CVE-2018-8440?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-8440 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 18 Apr 2022.

Is CVE-2018-8440 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-8440 in the wild since at least 28 Mar 2022, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module and 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

All Microsoft Windows 10 1607 vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-jw7v-w46m-p6pp.