CVE-2015-1701: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-04-03T15:04:22.093Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

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."

• Context preserved from previous revision: 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." Notes: RedTeam/Pentest notes and experiments tested on several infrastructures related to professional engagements.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2015-1701
• KEV date added: 2022-03-03
• KEV due date: 2022-03-24
• NVD published: 2015-04-21
• NVD modified: 2025-10-22
• MITRE modified: 2025-10-21
• CVSS base score: 7.8
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.8
• CVSS impact score: 5.9
• Attack vector: Local
• Attack complexity: Low
• Privileges required: Low
• User interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality impact: High
• Integrity impact: High
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• microsoft / windows 2003 server
• microsoft / windows 2003 server (versions: r2)
• microsoft / windows 7
• microsoft / windows server 2008
• microsoft / windows vista
• n/a / n/a (versions: n/a)

Weakness Classification

• NVD-CWE-noinfo
• CWE-noinfo Not enough information

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• ihebski/A-Red-Teamer-diaries | stars: 1900 | updated: 2026-03-31 | https://github.com/ihebski/A-Red-Teamer-diaries
  Notes: RedTeam/Pentest notes and experiments tested on several infrastructures related to professional engagements.
• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.
• CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo | stars: 9 | updated: 2026-03-10 | https://github.com/CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo
• CVEDB/top | stars: 2 | updated: 2026-01-17 | https://github.com/CVEDB/top
• batj44/reverse-shell-able-exploit-pocs | stars: 0 | updated: 2026-01-04 | https://github.com/batj44/reverse-shell-able-exploit-pocs

People and Organizations Mentioned

• microsoft
• Win32k
• ihebski
• Ostorlab
• CVEDB
• batj44

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Create low-privilege users on microsoft / windows 2003 server and validate that patching blocks unauthorized admin-level actions.
4. Compare token/privilege transitions in Windows Event Logs before and after remediation.
5. Tune detections for unusual group membership changes and SYSTEM-level process launches from user sessions.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1701
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-1701
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1701
• 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
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-1701
• Repository example: https://github.com/ihebski/A-Red-Teamer-diaries
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
• Repository example: https://github.com/CVEDB/awesome-cve-repo
• Repository example: https://github.com/CVEDB/top
• Repository example: https://github.com/batj44/reverse-shell-able-exploit-pocs

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.