CVE-2015-2387 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
ATMFD.DLL in the Adobe Type Manager Font Driver in Microsoft 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 "ATMFD.DLL Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The CVE-2015-2387 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Adobe Type Manager Font Driver component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the ATMFD.DLL module which serves as the font driver responsible for processing and rendering font files within the Windows environment. The flaw exists in multiple Windows versions including server and client operating systems, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a broad user base. The vulnerability allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This issue stems from improper memory handling when processing specially crafted font files, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks that can be exploited by malicious applications running with standard user privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. The flaw manifests when the ATMFD.DLL component processes malformed font data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. Attackers can craft malicious applications that load specially designed font files, triggering the memory corruption in the font driver. This exploitation technique falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' sub-technique. The vulnerability demonstrates how font rendering components can serve as attack vectors, leveraging the trusted nature of system font processing to bypass security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2387 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute code with system-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects both desktop and server operating systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where server systems often run with elevated privileges. Organizations using affected Windows versions face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate applications that process font files, making detection more challenging. The exploitation requires local access to the target system, but this access can be gained through various initial compromise vectors such as phishing attacks or drive-by downloads, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with less stringent access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2387 primarily involve applying the official Microsoft security patches released in the May 2015 security updates. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Windows versions, particularly focusing on server environments where the risk of privilege escalation is highest. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict font processing applications, disabling unnecessary font rendering services, and monitoring for suspicious font file processing activities. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security audits should verify that all affected systems have received proper patching. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability, as the attack vector relies on legitimate font processing functionality that makes traditional signature-based detection challenging.