# CVE-2014-4077: Microsoft IME Japanese Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2014-4077-microsoft-ime-japanese-privilege-escalation-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-05-25. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2014-4077 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-05-25

Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) Japanese contains an unspecified vulnerability in IMJPDCT.EXE that allows for privilege escalation. An attacker can bypass sandbox protection mechanisms, typically by using a crafted PDF document, to elevate their privileges on the system.

Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2014-4077 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2014-4077 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 25 May 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2014-4077?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 25 May 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2; Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2 SP1; Microsoft Windows 7 SP1; and 2 more.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2014-4077?** A patch was published on 2014-11-11: Microsoft released security bulletin MS14-078 to address the issue. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2014-4077 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2014-4077?** Check whether you run Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) Japanese. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2
- Microsoft Windows Vista SP2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2 SP1
- Microsoft Windows 7 SP1
- Microsoft Office 2007 SP3
- Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) Japanese (IMJPDCT.EXE)

## Timeline

- 2014-11-11: disclosed: Exploited in the wild in 2014 according to Microsoft and NVD records.
- 2014-11-11: patched: Microsoft released security bulletin MS14-078 to address the issue.
- 2022-05-25: kev added: Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.