CVEvulnerability
CVE-2016-7255
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability — Microsoft Win32k
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.
- Added to KEV
- 2021-11-03
- Remediation due
- 2022-05-03
- Ransomware use
- Known
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Notes
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255
- Status
- Analyzed
- Published
- 2016-11-10
- Last modified
- 2026-09-10
- Assigner
- [email protected]
- CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
- 7.8 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 3.1 (134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0)
- 7.8 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 2.0 ([email protected])
- 7.2 HIGH — AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
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 configurations
• 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 2008 r2
• microsoft windows server 2012
• microsoft windows server 2012 r2
• microsoft windows server 2016
• microsoft windows vista
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.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
- 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