# CVE-2015-2360: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation

> Local attackers can exploit a memory corruption flaw in the Windows kernel driver to gain elevated privileges or cause a system crash.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Jun 2015
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-259r-5hvg-4f6x

## What is CVE-2015-2360?

CVE-2015-2360 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 10 Jun 2015. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2 and R2 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 or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer), CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-2360?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Vista.

## How do I fix CVE-2015-2360?

No fix has been published for CVE-2015-2360 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2015-2360 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2015-2360 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 7

- [CVE-2015-1635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1635/): Microsoft HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6324/): Microsoft Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6332/): Microsoft Windows Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) Automation Array Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-4148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4148/): Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-1812](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1812/): Microsoft Windows Group Policy Preferences Password Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-2360 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-2360 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 10 Jun 2015. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2015-2360 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 7. 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-2015-2360/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2360/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-2360
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-2360
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-2360

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2360/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.