CVE-2015-0010

Microsoft Windows - CryptProtectMemory Security Feature Bypass via Impersonation Token

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2015-0010.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability (CVE-2015-0010) 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

The CryptProtectMemory function in cng.sys (aka the Cryptography Next Generation driver) 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, when the CRYPTPROTECTMEMORY_SAME_LOGON option is used, does not check an impersonation token's level, which allows local users to bypass intended decryption restrictions by leveraging a service that (1) has a named-pipe planting vulnerability or (2) uses world-readable shared memory for encrypted data, aka "CNG Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability" or MSRC ID 20707.

Exploits (1)

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

This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability (CVE-2015-0010) 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 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Windows XP/2K3/VISTA/2K8/7 (x86/x64)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Vulnerable Windows kernel version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 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_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/72461
Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
http://code.google.com/p/google-security-research/issues/detail?id=128

Scores

EPSS 0.0265
EPSS Percentile 83.7%

Details

CWE
CWE-310
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