CVE-2014-0300 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Windows Server 2003 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 via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The CVE-2014-0300 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the win32k.sys kernel-mode driver component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability affects a wide range of Windows versions including legacy systems like Windows xp and server 2003, as well as newer releases such as windows 7, 8, 8.1, and their respective server variants. The flaw resides in the kernel-mode drivers responsible for handling user interface operations, specifically within the win32k.sys module that manages graphics and user input processing. The vulnerability enables local attackers to execute code with elevated privileges by crafting malicious applications that exploit improper input validation within the kernel-mode driver.
This privilege escalation vulnerability operates through a flaw in how the win32k.sys driver processes certain user-mode input parameters during graphics rendering operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and validation of user-supplied data within kernel space, allowing malicious applications to manipulate driver behavior and ultimately escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level. The flaw specifically relates to how the driver handles certain window management operations and graphics processing commands that are typically initiated by user applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by creating specially crafted applications that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the kernel-mode driver to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0300 is severe as it allows local attackers to achieve system-level compromise without requiring network connectivity or external exploitation vectors. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability provides attackers with complete control over the affected system, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's widespread impact across multiple Windows versions means that organizations running any of the affected operating systems are at risk, including enterprise environments with legacy systems that may not receive regular updates. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as a critical threat due to its local privilege escalation nature and the ease with which it can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0300 primarily involve applying the official microsoft security patches released in march 2014 as part of the security bulletin ms14-018. organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches across all affected systems, particularly those running unsupported operating systems like windows xp and server 2003 that are no longer receiving security updates. additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized applications, disabling unnecessary graphics rendering features, and monitoring for suspicious kernel-mode activity through endpoint detection and response solutions. from a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with cwe-125 weakness in out-of-bounds read conditions and represents a typical example of privilege escalation techniques categorized under attack technique t1068 in the mitre att&ck framework. organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and least privilege access controls to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar kernel-mode vulnerabilities that may exist in their environments.