CVE-2016-7255
High 7.8 Exploited in the wild (KEV) Used in ransomware campaigns
Confirmed active exploitation — CISA KEV catalog
- Name
- Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Added to catalog
- Remediation due date (US federal)
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
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."
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.8 (HIGH)
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 81% (percentile: 100) as of 1 November 2026
Affected products
microsoft: windows 10 1507; microsoft: windows 10 1511; microsoft: windows 10 1607; microsoft: windows 7; microsoft: windows 8.1; microsoft: windows rt 8.1; microsoft: windows server 2008; microsoft: windows server 2012; microsoft: windows server 2016; microsoft: windows vista
References
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-1… PatchVendor Advisory
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-1… PatchVendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys… ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255 ExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys… ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255 ExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry