CVE-2018-0751 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Windows Kernel API 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 the Kernel API enforces permissions, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0752.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0751 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Windows Kernel API implementation across multiple operating system versions. This vulnerability affects Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 versions including Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and 1709, as well as Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. The flaw specifically resides in how the kernel API enforces permission controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. This issue falls under the CWE-269 permission enforcement weakness category, where the kernel fails to properly validate access controls for critical system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of kernel-mode operations within the Windows API framework. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass normal security boundaries that typically prevent user-mode processes from accessing privileged system functions. The vulnerability enables an attacker with low-privilege access to potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively granting them complete control over the affected system. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques to gain elevated system access. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the kernel's capability to enforce mandatory access controls, allowing unauthorized code execution in kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0751 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating a severe security risk for enterprise environments and individual users alike. Once exploited, the vulnerability can enable attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, access encrypted data, and potentially compromise entire network infrastructures. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable because they represent widely deployed operating system versions that many organizations have not yet fully updated. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where the affected systems may be running critical applications and services that require elevated privileges. The exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction and can be automated, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates released in response to this vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected Windows versions to prevent exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict user access controls, monitoring for unusual system activity, and deploying endpoint detection and response solutions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates the critical nature of kernel-level security controls. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Organizations with legacy systems that cannot be immediately patched should consider implementing additional monitoring and access control measures as temporary mitigations.