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HIGH · CVSS 8.8 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

CVE-2015-2360

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Win32k

win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2 and R2 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

CVSS
8.8
HIGH
EPSS
14.8%
30-day exploitation
Ransomware groups
0
recorded exploiting
Published
10 Jun 2015
CWE-119, CWE-416

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 14.8%, which is higher than 96.7% 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:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2015-2360 being exploited by ransomware groups?

No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2015-2360.

What does CVE-2015-2360 affect?

CVE-2015-2360 affects Microsoft Win32k. win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2 and R2 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

How severe is CVE-2015-2360?

CVE-2015-2360 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 14.8%, higher than 96.7% 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-2015-2360?

Apply the vendor patch for Microsoft Win32k 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.