CVE Tools
Sign in

CVE-2015-2546

Published: Sep 9, 2015Updated: Aug 14, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD BDUCWE-119
8.2HIGH
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
10.2%
Top 4.6%
CISA KEV
Active Exploitation
Since Mar 15, 2022
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available
Self-Check
OpenVAS

Description

The kernel-mode driver 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 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Memory Corruption Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-2511, CVE-2015-2517, and CVE-2015-2518.

In plain language

AI Act now

This is a Windows privilege-escalation flaw that lets a local user gain higher system access; if your business runs affected older Windows versions, you should act now because attackers have used it in real ransomware campaigns.

Executive summary

CVE-2015-2546 is a local privilege escalation weakness (CWE-119) in a Windows kernel-mode driver; a specially crafted application can cause memory-corruption behavior that lets an attacker running code on the same machine gain elevated privileges, and it is listed in CISA KEV as used in ransomware campaigns.

If affected, business impact
Full system takeoverRansomware enablementLoss of sensitive dataComplete service disruption

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:LPR:LUI:RS:CC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:RUser Interaction
Required
Scope
S:CScope
Changed
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-119

Affected Products

Microsoft Corp
commercial·USaka microsoft, microsoft corporation
Windows 10On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
Windows 7 Service Pack 1On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
windows vistaOS
Operating Systems / windows
Windows 8.1On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
Windows RTOn-premOS
Operating Systems / mobile-os
Windows RT 8.1On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
Windows Server 2012On-premOS
Operating Systems / windows
and 13 more affected products View all →

Exploitability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Added to KEV:Mar 15, 2022
Remediation due:Apr 5, 2022
Ransomware:Known ransomware use

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Official Patch Available
Is your org exposed to CVE-2015-2546?We can run the check for you — a free external exposure review, no install. Check my exposure

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes for MITRE ATT&CK details · drag to pan · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll to zoom, or go fullscreen.

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Initial Access
Privilege Escalation
View detailed technique mapping

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76608
securityfocus.com
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033485
securitytracker.com
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-097
docs.microsoft.com
and 2 more references View all →

Unlock Complete Vulnerability Intelligence

Get the full picture for CVE-2015-2546 and every CVE in our database. Create a free account — no credit card required.

Create Free Account
Plain-language analysis
Impact assessment and exploitation scenario in plain English
Attack graph visualization
Interactive attack path and kill chain mapping
Exploit details & PoC links
ExploitDB, Metasploit, GitHub PoCs with direct links
Nuclei scanner templates
Ready-to-use vulnerability scanner templates
Full remediation guide
Patch instructions, workarounds, and compliance impact
Interactive AI chat
Ask questions about this vulnerability in natural language
Related vulnerabilities
Semantically similar CVEs and attack patterns
REST API & MCP access
Integrate vulnerability data into your workflows