Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-115 - Critical

• 10/11/2017
• 15 minutes to read
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Security Update for Microsoft Windows to Address Remote Code Execution (3105864)

Published: November 10, 2015 | Updated: April 7, 2016

Version: 2.1

Executive Summary

This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if an attacker convinces a user to open a specially crafted document or to visit an untrusted webpage that contains embedded fonts.

This security update is rated Critical for all supported releases of Windows. For more information, see the Affected Software section.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting how:

• Windows handles objects in memory
• Adobe Type Manager Library in Windows handles embedded fonts
• Windows Kernel validates certain permissions

For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Vulnerability Information section.

For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3105864.

Affected Software

The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

^[2]Note that update 3081320 in MS15-121 and update 3101246 in MS15-122 are releasing concurrently with update 3101746 in this bulletin, MS15-115. Customers who intend to install all three updates manually on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 should install the updates in the following order: 3101246 first, 3101746 second, and 3081320 third (this is taken care of automatically for customers with automatic updating enabled). Alternatively, customers can install only 3081320, which contains the updates for 3101246 and 3101746. For more information see the Known Issues section of Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3105256.

^[3]This update is only available via Windows Update.

[4]Windows 10 updates are cumulative. In addition to containing non-security updates, they also contain all of the security fixes for all of the Windows 10-affected vulnerabilities shipping with the monthly security release. The updates are available via the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Note Windows Server Technical Preview 3 is affected. Customers running this operating system are encouraged to apply the update, which is available via Windows Update.

*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in any chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is provided on the Package Details tab).

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the November bulletin summary.

Vulnerability Information

Multiple Windows Kernel Memory Elevation of Privilege Vulnerabilities

Multiple elevation of privilege vulnerabilities exist in the way that Windows handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could run arbitrary code in kernel mode. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

To exploit the vulnerabilities, an attacker would first have to log on to the target system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerabilities and take control over an affected system. The update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting how Windows handles objects in memory.