Microsoft Windows up to Server 2016 Kernel API access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Microsoft Windows. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component Kernel API. The manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2018-0748. The attack must be carried out locally. In addition, an exploit is available. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows (Operating System) and classified as critical. This issue affects an unknown code of the component Kernel API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The Windows kernel in Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, 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 memory addresses are handled, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability".

The bug was discovered 01/03/2018. The weakness was presented 01/03/2018 by James Forshaw with Google Project Zero as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2018-0748 since 12/01/2017. An attack has to be approached locally. A simple authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue. The advisory points out:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Kernel API enforces permissions. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could impersonate processes, interject cross-process communication, or interrupt system functionality.

A public exploit has been developed by Google Security Research and been published 2 weeks after the advisory. The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 105547 (KB4056888: Windows 10 Version 1511 January 2018 Security Update (Meltdown)(Spectre)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 91423 (Microsoft Windows Security Update (ADV180002) (Spectre/Meltdown)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (43514), Tenable (105547) and SecurityFocus (BID 102354†). See VDB-111347, VDB-111348, VDB-111349 and VDB-111350 for similar entries. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 6.6
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Author: Google Security Research
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 105547
Nessus Name: KB4056888: Windows 10 Version 1511 January 2018 Security Update (Meltdown)(Spectre)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 870324
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Windows Multiple Vulnerabilities (KB4056892)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

12/01/2017 🔍
01/03/2018 +33 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/03/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/04/2018 +1 days 🔍
01/04/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/05/2018 +1 days 🔍
01/11/2018 +6 days 🔍
01/11/2018 +0 days 🔍
09/16/2025 +2804 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Researcher: James Forshaw
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-0748 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-0748
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-111353

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 102354 - Microsoft Windows Kernel CVE-2018-0748 Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1040095

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 01/05/2018 10:00
Updated: 09/16/2025 01:16
Changes: 01/05/2018 10:00 (97), 06/06/2020 12:01 (6), 01/28/2021 13:55 (2), 09/16/2025 01:16 (15)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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