Is CVE-2015-1701 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2015-1701 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on March 3, 2022.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2015-1701?

CVE-2015-1701 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

CVE-2015-1701

HIGH · CVSS 7.8CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 55.9%EU EUVD: exploited

Win32k.sys in the kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Vista SP2, and Server 2008 SP2 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, as exploited in the wild in April 2015, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Key facts

CVSS score: 7.8 (v3.1)
Severity: HIGH
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS score: 55.9% (99th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added March 3, 2022
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2015-1831)
Published: April 21, 2015
NVD last modified: August 14, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on March 3, 2022; federal remediation due March 24, 2022. Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2015-1831 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on August 14, 2026.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

microsoft / windows 2003 server
microsoft / windows 2003 server
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows vista

Certified products that may be affected

10 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Windows 7 BitLocker™ Drive Encryption - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1332 - historical
Microsoft Windows 7 Kernel Mode Cryptographic Primitives Library (cng.sys) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1328 - historical
Windows Vista Enhanced Cryptographic Provider (RSAENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1002 - historical
Windows Vista Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider (DSSENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1003 - historical
Windows Vista Boot Manager (bootmgr) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 978 - historical

See all 10 in the Security Certifications Explorer.

References

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/May/34(Broken Link, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
http://twitter.com/symantec/statuses/590208710527549440(Press/Media Coverage)
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/74245(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1032155(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-051(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-1701(US Government Resource)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37049/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37367/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2015/04/probable_apt28_useo.html(Third Party Advisory)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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