Cyber Resilience

CVE-2015-1635

RCE in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 r2

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedPublic PoCRCE
Published
14 April 2015
Modified
22 April 2026
KEV Added
10 February 2022
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.99 100.0th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2015-1635 is a critical-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059); ranked in the top 0.0% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2015-1635 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the HTTP.sys kernel-mode driver that handles HTTP requests in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2. The flaw, assigned CWE-94, permits an attacker to trigger arbitrary code execution by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to an affected system.

Remote, unauthenticated attackers can exploit the issue over the network to achieve full code execution with no user interaction required. Successful exploitation yields complete control over the target system, consistent with the vulnerability's CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The referenced Microsoft security bulletin MS15-034 provides official patches and mitigation guidance for the listed Windows versions. Public proof-of-concept code demonstrating the flaw has been released.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

HTTP.sys in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTTP requests, aka "HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
10 February 2022

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.002 AppleScript Execution
Adversaries may abuse AppleScript for execution.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse Unix shell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.005 Visual Basic Execution
Adversaries may abuse Visual Basic (VB) for execution.
T1059.006 Python Execution
Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2014-4148Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2017-8759Same product: Microsoft Windows 7both on KEV
CVE-2013-3906Same product: Microsoft Windows Server 2008both on KEV
CVE-2009-0556Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2012-0158Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2025-49704Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2023-24955Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2024-21351Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2009-0557Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV
CVE-2009-0238Same vendor: Microsoftboth on KEV

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 7
all versions
microsoft
windows 8
all versions
microsoft
windows 8.1
all versions
microsoft
windows server 2008
r2
microsoft
windows server 2012
all versions, r2

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.3.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-94

Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.

addresses: CWE-94

Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.

addresses: CWE-94

Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.

addresses: CWE-94

Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly target injection flaws via secure coding and testing (mostly), yet as a single broad outcome it leaves many code-generation specifics unaddressed (partial).

PR.DS-10 none match
prevents

PR.DS-10 protects runtime data confidentiality/integrity but has no bearing on neutralizing externally influenced input during code generation, so neither direction shows any preventive effect.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Banning unapproved code samples and unauthenticated web services, combined with secure-coding standards and SAST, prevents the dynamic generation or inclusion of attacker-supplied code.

none

Controls that restrict unauthorized or malicious code from being introduced via external networks or removable media limit opportunities for an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code.

References