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Weekly Signal
Live intelligence Updated 19 Aug 2026 · 20:27 UTC

Microsoft · Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8 +4 more

CVE-2014-1812

Microsoft Windows Group Policy Preferences Password Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Recommended action

Validate affected assets and exposure now, then remediate on an accelerated schedule. Microsoft Security patch Ms14 025

View response plan
CVSS8.8
EPSS65.1%
KEVYes
ExploitationConfirmed exploitation
RemediationExplicit patch identified ↓

Assessment

Why it matters

CISA lists this vulnerability as known to be exploited; exploitation is confirmed; EPSS is 65.1%; technical severity is CVSS 8.8.

The Group Policy implementation in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 does not properly handle distribution of passwords, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive credential information and consequently gain privileges by leveraging access to the SYSVOL share, as exploited in the wild in May 2014, aka "Group Policy Preferences Password Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Who should care

  • Teams operating Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8 +4 more
  • Vulnerability and exposure management teams
  • Security operations teams monitoring exploitation activity

Response plan

What I would do

  1. Confirm whether Windows, Windows 7, Windows 8 +4 more is present in the environment.
  2. Identify affected versions and establish whether vulnerable services are exposed or reachable.
  3. Microsoft Security patch Ms14 025
  4. Review relevant security telemetry for evidence of attempted or successful exploitation.
  5. Document the remediation decision and track it to verified completion.

Treatment intelligence

Remediation intelligence

Not yet verified

Vendor sources are listed before government and third-party guidance. Confirm product applicability and change prerequisites before deployment.

Verification noteAutomated link verification has not completed for this guidance yet.

Patch

Required Action

Technical details

CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE
CWE-255
Affected versions
Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows 7 (Version -); Microsoft Windows 8 (Version -); Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Version -); Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Version - | Version r2 | Version r2); Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (Version - | Version r2); Microsoft Windows Vista (Version -)
Fixed versions
No explicit fixed version is currently recorded.
Published
14 May 2014
Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None

Signal timeline

  1. CVE published
  2. Added to CISA KEV
  3. Latest EPSS score: 65.1%
  4. Signal calculated at 83

External references

Live public intelligence This assessment combines public-source evidence. Validate the affected product, version and exposure against your own environment before making a risk decision.