CVE-2015-1701
Published 2015-04-21 · Updated 2026-08-14 · Source secure@microsoft.com
Summary
CVE-2015-1701 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) vulnerability in Microsoft Win32k. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on March 3, 2022, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed; US federal agencies had to remediate it by March 24, 2022. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns, so it should be prioritised accordingly. Microsoft has 390 vulnerabilities in the KEV catalog, 117 of them linked to ransomware.
All 390 known-exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities →Description
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."
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA Known-Exploited Vulnerability
Product: Microsoft — Win32k
Name: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Date added: 2022-03-03 · Due: 2022-03-24
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
References
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/May/34
- http://twitter.com/symantec/statuses/590208710527549440
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/74245
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1032155
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-051
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37049/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37367/
- https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2015/04/probable_apt28_useo.html