CVE-2015-2527 — 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."

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HIGH

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."

Published Sep 9, 2015

7.2

HIGH

CVSS 2.0

EPSS 6.56%

Description

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."

Affected products

Remediation

No remediation recorded yet.

Metrics

6.56% 0.06560

Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 2, 2026.

EPSS probability 0.06560

Score over time

2022–2026

EPSS v2
EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Percentile over time

EPSS v2
EPSS v3
EPSS v4
EPSS v5

Table of values (15 key points)

Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.

Date	Score	Percentile	Model
Oct 2, 2026	6.56% (0.06560)	93.62th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Jun 15, 2026	7.04% (0.07044)	93.34th	v5 (v2026.06.15)
Oct 31, 2025	14.92% (0.14919)	94.25th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Sep 18, 2025	16.32% (0.16316)	94.62th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Jun 23, 2025	15.25% (0.15254)	94.27th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Jun 15, 2025	37.17% (0.37174)	96.95th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
May 10, 2025	34.60% (0.34598)	96.76th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 29, 2025	18.62% (0.18619)	92.20th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Mar 17, 2025	16.73% (0.16732)	94.42th	v4 (v2025.03.14)
Dec 17, 2024	12.24% (0.12244)	95.37th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Jun 14, 2024	0.05% (0.00054)	21.78th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Mar 7, 2023	0.05% (0.00054)	19.75th	v3 (v2023.03.01)
Mar 6, 2023	1.96% (0.01961)	78.50th	v2 (v2022.01.01)
Apr 1, 2022	1.96% (0.01961)	76.61th	v2 (v2022.01.01)
Feb 4, 2022	1.96% (0.01961)	55.74th	v2 (v2022.01.01)

Weaknesses (1)

CWE-264

References (4)

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76599
vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033485
vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-097
vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MSPatchVendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/38199/
exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry

Link	Providers	Tags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76599		vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033485		vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-097		vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MSPatchVendor Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/38199/		exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry

Change history (0)

No recorded changes yet.

Sources

CVE.org / MITRE

Status PUBLISHED

Assigner microsoft

Published Sep 9, 2015

Updated Aug 6, 2024

Reserved Mar 19, 2015

Link CVE-2015-2527

CISA Vulnrichment

Updated n/a

NVD

Status Modified

Modified Jun 17, 2026

Link CVE-2015-2527

Red Hat

Severity n/a

Public date n/a

Links CVE-2015-2527