CVE-2016-0040
Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 18 April 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
The kernel in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 24.28% probability · 98th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 4 May 2018
- CISA KEV
- Listed 28 March 2022 · due 18 April 2022
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows server 2008 · microsoft/windows vista
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 24.3% since 30 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0040
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034985Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-014Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44586/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034985Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-014Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44586/Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0040US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.