CVE-2016-7255
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 May 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
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."
- 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
- 80.97% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 3 in Exploit-DB · first 9 November 2016
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 November 2021 · due 3 May 2022 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Affected
- 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
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 81.0% since 27 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-2016-7255
Public exploits (3)
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.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-41015source ↗ | Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (2)windows · Rick Larabee | local | 8 January 2017 | no |
| EDB-40823source ↗ | Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (1)windows · IOactive | local | 24 November 2016 | no |
| EDB-40745source ↗ | Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k' Denial of Service (MS16-135)windows · TinySec | dos | 9 November 2016 | no |
References
- 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.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255Exploit, 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.htmlThird 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
- 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.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255Exploit, 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.htmlThird 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-2016-7255US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.