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.
Conclusion & alert: CVE-2018-8405 is rated Critical Active Threat (86.5/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 49.99%, 98th percentile). Core evidence: CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2022-03-28) affecting Microsoft / DirectX Graphics Kernel (DXGKRNL). a weakness (CWE-404) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. Mandatory action: The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.
Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.
: Microsoft DirectX Graphics Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail
: 2022-03-28
: 2022-04-18
: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).
| # | Date | Old EPSS score | New EPSS score | Delta (New - Old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025-11-21 | 53.87% | 49.99% | -3.88% |
| 2 | 2025-11-18 | 49.99% | 53.87% | +3.88% |
| 3 | 2025-10-29 | — | 49.99% | — |
Full EPSS history (15 records total)
CVSS metrics for this CVE.
| Base score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability | Impact | Score source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | 3.1 | HIGH |
|
1.8 | 5.9 | [email protected] |
| 7.8 | 3.1 | HIGH |
|
1.8 | 5.9 | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
| 7.2 | 2.0 | HIGH |
|
3.9 | 10.0 | [email protected] |
| Vendor | Product | Version | Raw CPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_10_1507 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1507:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1507 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1507:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1607 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1607 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1703 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1703:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1703 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1703:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1709 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1709 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1709:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1803 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| microsoft | windows_10_1803 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:x86:* |
| microsoft | windows_8.1 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| microsoft | windows_rt_8.1 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_rt_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| microsoft | windows_server_1709 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_1709:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| microsoft | windows_server_1803 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_1803:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| microsoft | windows_server_2012 | r2 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| microsoft | windows_server_2016 | — | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105011 | Broken Link Third Party Advisory VDB Entry |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041461 | Broken Link Third Party Advisory VDB Entry |
| https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2018-8405 | Patch Vendor Advisory |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-8405 | US Government Resource |