Assessment
Why it matters
CISA lists this vulnerability as known to be exploited; exploitation is confirmed; EPSS is 56.2%; technical severity is CVSS 7.8.
Win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP2, and Server 2008 SP2 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, as exploited in the wild in April 2015, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Who should care
- Teams operating Win32k, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 7 +2 more
- Vulnerability and exposure management teams
- Security operations teams monitoring exploitation activity
Response plan
What I would do
- Confirm whether Win32k, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 7 +2 more is present in the environment.
- Identify affected versions and establish whether vulnerable services are exposed or reachable.
- Microsoft Security patch Ms15 051
- Review relevant security telemetry for evidence of attempted or successful exploitation.
- Document the remediation decision and track it to verified completion.
Treatment intelligence
Remediation intelligence
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.
Technical details
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CWE
- CWE-264
- Affected versions
- Microsoft Win32k; Microsoft Windows 2003 Server (Version - | Version r2); Microsoft Windows 7 (Version -); Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Version -); Microsoft Windows Vista (Version -)
- Fixed versions
- No explicit fixed version is currently recorded.
- Published
- 21 April 2015
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
Signal timeline
- CVE published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Latest EPSS score: 56.2%
- Signal calculated at 81
External references
- CISA Government advisory CVE-2015-1701
- Seclists Third-party advisory
- Twitter Technical reference 590208710527549440
- Securityfocus Third-party advisory
- Securitytracker Third-party advisory 1032155
- Exploit information from www.exploit-db.com
- Exploit information from www.exploit-db.com
- Fireeye Third-party advisory Probable Apt28 Useo