Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2 Kernel-Mode Driver win32k.sys access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2 and classified as problematic. The affected element is an unknown function in the library win32k.sys of the component Kernel-Mode Driver. The manipulation leads to access control. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2015-2527. The attack must be carried out locally. In addition, an exploit is available. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2 (Operating System). It has been rated as critical. This issue affects an unknown part in the library win32k.sys of the component Kernel-Mode Driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

The process-initialization implementation in win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 does not properly constrain impersonation levels, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

The weakness was presented 09/08/2015 by James Forshaw with Google Project Zero as MS15-097 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared at technet.microsoft.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2015-2527 since 03/19/2015. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. A simple authentication is necessary for exploitation. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 85877 (MS15-097: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Graphics Component Could Allow Remote Code Execution (3089656)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 91094 (Microsoft Graphics Component Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (MS15-097)).

Applying the patch MS15-097 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at technet.microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (85877), SecurityFocus (BID 76599†), SecurityTracker (ID 1033485†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-52534†). See VDB-77613, VDB-77614, VDB-77615 and VDB-77616 for similar entries. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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CPE 2.3info

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 85877
Nessus Name: MS15-097: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Graphics Component Could Allow Remote Code Execution (3089656)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
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Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

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Patch: MS15-097

Timelineinfo

03/19/2015 🔍
09/08/2015 +173 days 🔍
09/08/2015 +0 days 🔍
09/08/2015 +0 days 🔍
09/08/2015 +0 days 🔍
09/08/2015 +0 days 🔍
09/08/2015 +0 days 🔍
09/09/2015 +1 days 🔍
09/09/2015 +0 days 🔍
06/15/2025 +3567 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS15-097
Researcher: James Forshaw
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2015-2527 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2015-2527
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-77633
SecurityFocus: 76599 - Microsoft Windows Kernel Mode Driver CVE-2015-2527 Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1033485 - Microsoft Graphics Component Bugs Let Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code and Local Users Gain Elevated Privileges
Vulnerability Center: 52534 - [MS15-097] Microsoft Windows Remote Privileges Escalation in the Kernel-Mode Drivers, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 09/09/2015 10:06
Updated: 06/15/2025 11:32
Changes: 09/09/2015 10:06 (68), 05/03/2019 08:02 (11), 06/14/2022 16:30 (3), 06/14/2022 16:37 (1), 06/15/2025 11:32 (22)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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