# CVE-2015-2554: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can gain elevated privileges on Windows systems by executing a crafted application exploiting a kernel object reference flaw.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2015
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8m22-qgcw-2mj3

## What is CVE-2015-2554?

CVE-2015-2554 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Oct 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The kernel in Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT Gold and 8.1, and Windows 10 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows Object Reference Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-2554?

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-2015-2554?

No fix has been published for CVE-2015-2554 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2015-2554 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-2554 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows - NtCreateLowBoxToken Handle Capture Local Denial of Service / Privilege Escalation (MS15-111) (exploitdb)

## 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-2015-1769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/): Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation (medium 6.6, 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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-2554 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-2554 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Oct 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-2554 exists.

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-2015-2554/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2554/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-2554
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-2554
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-2554

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2554/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.