CVEs / CVE-2016-7255
CVE-2016-7255: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 3 Nov 2021
- high 7.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
- EPSS 80.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
- Last changed at its sources
Are you affected? Check your servers with Stackurity: it lists the software on each server and the vulnerabilities to fix first.
Check your servers with Stackurity Already using Stackurity? Search for CVE-2016-7255
Summary
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.
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 and fixed versions
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| n/a n/a | n/a | — |
Exploitation
| In CISA KEV since | 3 Nov 2021 |
|---|---|
| Due date for US federal agencies | 3 May 2022 |
| Used in ransomware campaigns | Known |
| Required action | Apply updates per vendor instructions. |
Severity
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HScored by NVD |
|---|
References
- CVE-2016-7255 on NVD
- CVE-2016-7255 in the CISA KEV catalog
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/ Broken Link
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251 Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135 Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255 Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/ Broken Link
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html Third Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255 US Government Resource
Sources
Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.