CVE-2015-0016

HIGH KEV

Windows TS WebProxy - Directory Traversal Elevation of Privilege via Crafted Executable Pathname

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2015-0016 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added May 25, 2022. EIP tracks 2 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, Unknown, Henry Li, juan vazquez, including a Metasploit module exploits/windows/local/ms15_004_tswbproxy.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2015-0016, a sandbox escape vulnerability in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Web Proxy for Internet Explorer, allowing execution of code with Medium Integrity on Windows 7 SP1 and prior (32-bit). It leverages a process creation policy flaw to bypass Protected Mode.

Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the TS WebProxy (aka TSWbPrxy) component in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, and Windows RT Gold and 8.1 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted pathname in an executable file, as demonstrated by a transition from Low Integrity to Medium Integrity, aka "Directory Traversal Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubylocalwindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/35983

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2015-0016, a sandbox escape vulnerability in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Web Proxy for Internet Explorer, allowing execution of code with Medium Integrity on Windows 7 SP1 and prior (32-bit). It leverages a process creation policy flaw to bypass Protected Mode.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Web Proxy (IE Sandbox) on Windows 7 SP1 and prior (32-bit)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Meterpreter session with Low Integrity · Windows 7 SP1 or prior (32-bit) · Internet Explorer 8 or 11
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by Unknown, Henry Li, juan vazquez · rubypocwin
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/ms15_004_tswbproxy.rb

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2015-0016, a sandbox escape vulnerability in Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Web Proxy (TSWbPrxy.exe). It bypasses Internet Explorer's Protected Mode by abusing a process creation policy, allowing code execution at Medium Integrity on Windows 7 SP1 and prior 32-bit systems.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Web Proxy (TSWbPrxy.exe) on Windows 7 SP1 and prior (32-bit)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Meterpreter session with Low Integrity · Windows 7 SP1 or earlier (32-bit) · Internet Explorer 8 or 11
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (10)

Core 10
Core References
Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/71965
Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1031524
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/99515
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/99516
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/35983
Broken Link third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/62076
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ms
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-004

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.7578
EPSS Percentile 99.5%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2022-05-25
VulnCheck KEV 2015-01-13
InTheWild.io 2015-01-13
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2015-0054
CWE
CWE-22
Status published
Products (9)
microsoft/windows_7
microsoft/windows_8
microsoft/windows_8.1
microsoft/windows_rt
microsoft/windows_rt_8.1
microsoft/windows_server_2008 r2 sp1
microsoft/windows_server_2012
microsoft/windows_server_2012 r2
microsoft/windows_vista
Published Jan 13, 2015
KEV Added May 25, 2022
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026