Actively exploited

CVE-2014-4077 Microsoft IME Japanese Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) Japanese is a keyboard with Japanese characters that can be enabled on Windows systems as it is included by default (with the default set as disabled). IME Japanese contains an unspecified vulnerability when IMJPDCT.EXE (IME for Japanese) is installed which allows attackers to bypass a sandbox and perform privilege escalation.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch urgentlyCybergen assessment

CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 25 May 2022.
Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by CISA).
It has been in the catalogue for 1,626 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.

The Vulnerability

What It Is

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, and Office 2007 SP3, when IMJPDCT.EXE (aka IME for Japanese) is installed, allow remote attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism via a crafted PDF document, aka "Microsoft IME (Japanese) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in 2014.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) Japanese. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management
2
Fix it
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vulnerability Management
3
Hunt for compromise
If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.
Incident Response
4
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4077

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 15 Jun 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

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CVE-2014-4077 Microsoft IME Japanese Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Should You Worry?

What It Is

What To Do Now

Find it

Fix it

Hunt for compromise

Prove it is fixed

Vendor Advisories

The Compliance Clock

More Exploited Microsoft Flaws

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Sources