CVE-2018-8405
CVE-2018-8405 is a security flaw in Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL). Someone who already has a foothold can use Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 28 Mar 2022, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Microsoft has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a directX graphics kernel privilege escalation in Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL). In its words: “An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) driver improperly handles objects in memory.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-404, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Microsoft’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL).
Most families won’t have Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL); it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 28 Mar 2022, 1,321 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 18 Apr 2022 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 3%. That’s in the top 12% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Microsoft has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 18 Apr 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 3%.[4] |
See also
Other Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL) flaws
- CVE-2018-8406: directX graphics kernel privilege escalation ·
Other Microsoft flaws
- CVE-2026-96951, Microsoft Windows: command injection ·
- CVE-2026-65660, Microsoft SharePoint: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-85880, Microsoft Windows: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-81963, Microsoft Windows: link following ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-1096, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: type confusion ·
- CVE-2022-0543, Redis Debian-specific Redis Servers: debian-specific redis server lua sandbox escape ·
- CVE-2021-38646, Microsoft Office: access connectivity engine remote code execution ·
- CVE-2021-34486, Microsoft Windows: event tracing privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2021-26085, Atlassian Confluence Server: pre-authorization arbitrary file read ·
Every Microsoft flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in March 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 28 Mar 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2018-8405 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 15 Aug 2018.
- ^ Microsoft. Advisories and fixes: portal.msrc.microsoft.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.034, percentile 89.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2018-8405”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.