CVE-2015-0003

EXPLOITED

Windows win32k.sys - Local Privilege Escalation via NULL Pointer Dereference

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2015-0003 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV). EIP tracks 2 public exploits from researchers including Ascotbe.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability (CVE-2015-0003) to achieve local privilege escalation by manipulating the WM_SYSTIMER message handling mechanism. It replaces the primary token of the current process with that of the SYSTEM process, effectively granting administrative privileges.

Description

win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 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 (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC
localwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37098

This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability (CVE-2015-0003) to achieve local privilege escalation by manipulating the WM_SYSTIMER message handling mechanism. It replaces the primary token of the current process with that of the SYSTEM process, effectively granting administrative privileges.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Windows XP/2K3/VISTA/2K8/7 (x86/x64)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Compilation for the appropriate architecture (x86/x64)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
patchapalooza WRITEUP
by Ascotbe · local
https://github.com/Ascotbe/Kernelhub

This repository contains documentation and configuration scripts for a collection of Windows kernel exploits, including CVE-2003-0352, CVE-2006-3439, and others. It includes Python scripts for generating documentation and organizing exploit metadata, but no actual exploit code for CVE-2015-0003.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Windows Kernel (various versions)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: None
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ms
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-010
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/100430
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/72457

Scores

EPSS 0.1357
EPSS Percentile 94.4%

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2015-11-02
CWE
CWE-476
Status published
Products (11)
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_2008 r2 sp1 (2 CPE variants)
microsoft/windows_server_2012
microsoft/windows_server_2012 r2
... and 1 more
Published Feb 11, 2015
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026