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CVE-2016-7255

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: November 10, 2016 at 06:16 AM UTC
Updated: September 10, 2026 at 04:27 AM UTC
10 products affected across 1 vendorWindows Server 2016Windows Server 2012Windows 10 1607

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploitation
CISA KEV
Exploit prediction
EPSS 81%
SSVC
Active

Actively Exploited

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog

EPSS Score81.0%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) estimates a 81.0% chance this CVE is exploited in the wild within the next 30 days — higher than 100% of all CVEs. It complements CVSS: a high EPSS on a mid-severity CVE can still be urgent.

Microsoft Win32k kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory which allows for privilege escalation. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to run code in kernel mode.

Required Action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Ransomware Use
Known
Added to KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Remediation Due
May 3, 2022
1638 days overdue
Notes
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255

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

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (12)

x_refsource_MISCBroken Link
Source: [email protected]
http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
Source: [email protected]
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
VDB Entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064
VDB Entryx_refsource_SECTRACKBroken LinkThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251
Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_MSPatch
Source: [email protected]
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
x_refsource_MISCBroken Link
Source: [email protected]
https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCActiveNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.8HIGHCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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