Technical Information

Brief overview of the risk:
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Windows Service Control Manager (SCM), which is caused when SCM improperly verifies impersonation levels. The vulnerability could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker can first log on to the system and then run a specially crafted application designed to increase privileges.

Detailed Information on the risk:

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Service Control Manager (SCM) when the SCM improperly verifies impersonation levels. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain elevated privileges and make calls to SCM for which they lack sufficient privilege. The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that the SCM verifies impersonation levels.

Further information on this exploit is available at : MS15-050

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems 
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems 
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems 
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems 
Windows Server 2012 R2 
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation)
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) 
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) 
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)