# CVE-2015-1769: Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation

> A local attacker with physical access can execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges by connecting a malicious USB device to vulnerable Windows systems.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 May 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Aug 2015
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fj6j-88c7-c8gx

## What is CVE-2015-1769?

CVE-2015-1769 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 15 Aug 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Mount Manager in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 mishandles symlinks, which allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code by connecting a crafted USB device, aka "Mount Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-1769?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Vista.

## How do I fix CVE-2015-1769?

No fix has been published for CVE-2015-1769 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2015-1769 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2015-1769 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

Public exploit code:

- PoC for CVE-2015-1769 (github_poc): https://github.com/int0/CVE-2015-1769

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10

- [CVE-2015-2426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2426/): Microsoft Windows Adobe Type Manager Library Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1467/): Windows Hard Link Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-26424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26424/): Windows TCP/IP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-28476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28476/): Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-26867](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26867/): Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-1769 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-1769 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 15 Aug 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2015-1769 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-1769
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1769
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-1769

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.