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CVE-2015-1701 is a local elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Win32k subsystem of Microsoft Windows, addressed in MS15-051. The flaw resides in win32k.sys and has been described as a CreateWindow callback validation error within the kernel-mode window management path. Improper validation during a user-mode callback reachable from crafted windowing operations allows a local attacker to trigger unsafe kernel behavior from an unprivileged process. The vulnerability affects older supported Windows releases including Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, and Windows Server 2008 SP2. It was exploited in the wild in 2015 and has been incorporated into multiple post-compromise exploit chains used by both espionage and crimeware operators to elevate from a low-privilege foothold to SYSTEM.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).
This repository contains a functional local privilege escalation exploit for CVE-2015-1701, a vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows kernel (win32k.sys) that allows a local user to elevate privileges to SYSTEM. The exploit is implemented in C and is structured as a Visual Studio project, with the main logic in 'Source/Taihou/main.c'. Supporting files provide minimal runtime library functions. The exploit works by manipulating kernel structures and function pointers to steal the SYSTEM process token and assign it to the current process. Upon success, it spawns a SYSTEM-level command prompt (cmd.exe). The exploit only works on unpatched systems (Windows build <= 7601, prior to MS15-051). No network or remote attack vector is present; exploitation requires local code execution. The repository is well-structured, with clear separation between exploit logic and utility functions.
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Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
20 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Windows Win32k elevation of privilege vulnerability listed as one of the CVEs used for DirtyMoe installation.
A privilege escalation vulnerability listed as one of the integrated exploits used by Purple Fox during later infection stages.
A Windows local privilege escalation vulnerability involving a CreateWindow callback validation error, originally exploited as a 0-Day and later sold by PlayBit as a 1-Day exploit.
A Windows local privilege escalation vulnerability mentioned only in a list of PlayBit-developed 1-day exploits.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.