win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008…

published 2012-05-09 14 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2012-0218

cvss: 7.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 1.3%; EPSS 1.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 69%
public exploits: 0; none known

win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2, and R2 SP1, Windows 7 Gold and SP1, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview does not properly handle user-mode input passed to kernel mode for (1) windows and (2) messages, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows and Messages Vulnerability."

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 2 y ago (2023-12-11)

Exploit prediction

1.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 69% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	7.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	7.2	AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Classification

Weakness

CWE-20 Improper Input Validation

References

docs.microsoft.com /en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-034
vendor-advisory
oval.cisecurity.org /repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15466
vdb-entry, signature
securitytracker.com /id?1027039
vdb-entry
us-cert.gov /cas/techalerts/TA12-129A.html
third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
securityfocus.com /bid/53324
vdb-entry

Sources

CVE List CVE-2012-0180
NVD CVE-2012-0180

Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary