CVE-2018-8208

HIGH

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 - Elevation of Privilege via Desktop Bridge Virtual Registry

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2018-8208. PoCs published by Google Security Research, kaisaryousuf.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a race condition in the Desktop Bridge activation process on Windows 10 (1703, 1709) to create arbitrary object directories via symbolic links, leading to local privilege escalation. The PoC demonstrates the vulnerability by attempting to create a directory in the object manager namespace.

Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when Desktop Bridge does not properly manage the virtual registry, aka "Windows Desktop Bridge Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability." This affects Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 10 Servers. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8214.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · textdoswindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44914

This exploit leverages a race condition in the Desktop Bridge activation process on Windows 10 (1703, 1709) to create arbitrary object directories via symbolic links, leading to local privilege escalation. The PoC demonstrates the vulnerability by attempting to create a directory in the object manager namespace.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Racy
Target: Windows 10 1703, 1709
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Multi-core system · My Office application installed · Local System access to parent directory
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44914/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041093
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104392

Scores

CVSS v3 7.0
EPSS 0.0315
EPSS Percentile 86.3%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

Status published
Products (7)
microsoft/windows_10 1607
microsoft/windows_10 1703
microsoft/windows_10 1709
microsoft/windows_10 1803
microsoft/windows_server_2016
microsoft/windows_server_2016 1709
microsoft/windows_server_2016 1803
Published Jun 14, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026