CVE-2016-7255
Act now ● On CISA KEV — actively exploited used in ransomware
Actively exploited — on the CISA KEV list.
CVSS base
7.8
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS — probability of exploitation (30 days)
81.0%
99.6th percentile
CISA KEV
Listed
Added 2021-11-03 · patch by 2022-05-03
Weakness / dates
—
Published 2016-11-10 · modified 2026-09-10
CVSS breakdown
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
| Attack Vector | L | Local |
| Attack Complexity | L | Low |
| Privileges Required | N | None |
| User Interaction | R | Required |
| Scope | U | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | H | High |
| Integrity | H | High |
| Availability | H | High |
Timeline
- 2016-11-10 — Published (NVD)
- 2021-11-03 — Added to CISA KEV (actively exploited)
- 2022-05-03 — CISA patch-by deadline
- 2026-09-10 — Last modified (NVD)
Description
The kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607, and Windows Server 2016 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Affected
References
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
- exploit http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
- exploit https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
- exploit http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
- exploit https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/
- exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255