CVE-2015-1769

MEDIUM KEV

Microsoft Windows - Elevation of Privilege via Crafted USB Device Symlink Handling

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2015-1769 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added May 25, 2022. EIP tracks 1 public exploit from researchers including int0.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository provides a VHD file and batch script to reproduce CVE-2015-1769, a vulnerability in Windows Mount Manager involving symbolic link manipulation. The PoC triggers the vulnerability by mounting the VHD and inspecting system logs for blocked errors if patched.

Description

Mount Manager 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 mishandles symlinks, which allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code by connecting a crafted USB device, aka "Mount Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Exploits (1)

nomisec WORKING POC 3 stars
by int0 · poc
https://github.com/int0/CVE-2015-1769

This repository provides a VHD file and batch script to reproduce CVE-2015-1769, a vulnerability in Windows Mount Manager involving symbolic link manipulation. The PoC triggers the vulnerability by mounting the VHD and inspecting system logs for blocked errors if patched.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Windows Mount Manager (versions prior to patch)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Access to mount a VHD file · Local system access
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4

Scores

CVSS v3 6.6
EPSS 0.5740
EPSS Percentile 98.2%
Attack Vector PHYSICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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 2015-08-11
InTheWild.io 2015-08-11
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2015-1899
CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (11)
microsoft/windows_10
microsoft/windows_7
microsoft/windows_8
microsoft/windows_8.1
microsoft/windows_rt
microsoft/windows_rt_8.1
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 Aug 15, 2015
KEV Added May 25, 2022
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026