CVE-2015-1769
Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows
Mount Manager in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 mishandles symlinks, which allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code by connecting a crafted USB device, aka "Mount Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 25 May 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 15 June 2022.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 4.1%, which is higher than 90.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2015-1769 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2015-1769.
What does CVE-2015-1769 affect?
CVE-2015-1769 affects Microsoft Windows. Mount Manager in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 mishandles symlinks, which allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code by connecting a crafted USB device, aka "Mount Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
How severe is CVE-2015-1769?
CVE-2015-1769 is rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 6.6. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 4.1%, higher than 90.6% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 15 June 2022.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2015-1769?
Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Windows as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.