What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-1701?

CVE-2015-1701 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 90.2%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2015-1701?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2015-1701. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 90.2%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2015-1701?

Within 24 hours: Identify all affected systems and apply vendor patches immediately. Vendor patch is available.

Windows Server 2008 CVE-2015-1701

HIGH

2015-04-21 secure@microsoft.com

Information Disclosure Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Windows 7 Windows 2003 Server Windows Vista

7.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Impact	High risk as part of exploit chains. APT groups combined this with browser vulnerabilities (typically IE or Flash) to go from initial web-based compromise to full SYSTEM-level access in a single attack sequence.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An APT operation used a watering hole with an IE zero-day for initial browser process compromise, then immediately chained CVE-2015-1701 to escalate from the browser's limited sandbox to SYSTEM privileges, enabling installation of a persistent kernel-level rootkit.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: In CISA KEV with patch available.

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) Patch available 90.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 26, 2026

Win32k.sys in Windows Server 2003, Vista, and Server 2008 allows local privilege escalation through a kernel-mode vulnerability, exploited in the wild alongside browser zero-days in April 2015 as part of APT attack chains.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 26, 2026 - 11:18 CVSS 7.8

A privilege escalation vulnerability in win32k.sys allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges on legacy Windows systems. This was actively exploited in April 2015 as the second stage in APT exploit chains following browser compromise.

RemediationAI

Apply Microsoft security update MS15-051. These Windows versions are end-of-life and should be replaced. Implement modern endpoint protection with behavioral detection.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The vulnerability in the kernel-mode win32k.sys driver allows an attacker with code execution at user level to escalate to SYSTEM privileges. Win32k vulnerabilities are triggered through the GDI/USER subsystem's handling of window objects and messages.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH

AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Added to CISA KEV

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 cisa

CISA KEV

PoC Detected

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 vuln.today

Public exploit code

Patch released

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 nvd

Patch available

CVE Published

Apr 21, 2015 - 10:59 nvd

HIGH 7.8

DescriptionNVD

Win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP2, and Server 2008 SP2 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, as exploited in the wild in April 2015, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2015-1701 presents notable security risk rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Severe

Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score

9.3/10

Composite threat intelligence

EPSS Score

90.2%

Top 0% exploitable

Threat Intel

1 sources

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

8 sources

Confidence: High

NVD

CVE.org

CISA KEV

EPSS POC (1) THREAT

Exploit-DB

VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV Yes

Public POC Yes

EPSS 90.2%

Patch available Yes

Active threat Yes

Deciding rule

In CISA KEV with patch available

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Out-of-Cycle

Exploitation· derived

Active

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

Very High

Priority Score

224

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: +50

EPSS: +90

CVSS: +39

PoC: +20

Weaponized: +15

Threat intel: +10

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_2003_server:r2:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Threat IntelligenceMISP

Threat Actors

APT28 APT16

Malware Families

JHUHUGIT

ATT&CK Techniques (observed)

T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation T1134.001 - Token Impersonation/Theft

Sources: MITRE ATT&CK, MISP Galaxies (CC0), Metasploit/Nuclei

References

Advisories & patches

PATCH https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-051 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/75028 REF http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/May/34 REF http://twitter.com/symantec/statuses/590208710527549440 REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/74245 REF http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1032155 REF https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-1701 REF https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2015/04/probable_apt28_useo.html

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GitHub PoC

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