{"id":"CVE-2016-7255","published":"2016-11-10T07:00:09Z","modified":"2026-09-10T04:17:32Z","title":"Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability","vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Win32k","tier":"core","eol":null,"description":{"text":"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.\"","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"summary":{"text":"The Win32k kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows (including Vista SP2, Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, Server 2012, RT 8.1, 10 through version 1607, and Server 2016) contain a flaw in how privileges are handled. A local user can exploit it by running a crafted application to gain elevated privileges, and this requires local access with user interaction.","provenance":"ai","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","generatedAt":"2026-10-23T06:58:54Z"},"cvss":{"score":7.8,"severity":"HIGH","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"epss":{"score":0.80968,"percentile":0.99629,"date":"2026-10-28","provenance":"source"},"kev":{"dateAdded":"2021-11-03","dueDate":"2022-05-03","ransomware":true,"requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","notes":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255","provenance":"source"},"vulncheckKev":{"dateAdded":"2016-10-21","exploitedFirstSeen":"2016-10-21","ransomware":true,"evidence":[{"url":"https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lkNJ0uQwbeC1ZTRrxdtuPLCIl7mlUreoKfSIgajnSyY/edit","date":"2016-10-21"},{"url":"https://api.msrc.microsoft.com/cvrf/v3.0/cvrf/2016-Nov","date":"2016-11-08"},{"url":"https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-let-ride-sofacy-groups-dealerschoice-attacks-continue/","date":"2016-12-15"},{"url":"https://us-cert.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/AR-17-20045_Enhanced_Analysis_of_GRIZZLY_STEPPE_Activity.pdf","date":"2017-02-10"},{"url":"https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/05/eps-processing-zero-days.html","date":"2017-05-09"},{"url":"https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/05/cyber-espionage-apt32.html","date":"2017-05-14"},{"url":"https://www.accenture.com/us-en/blogs/cyber-defense/pond-loach-delivers-badcake-malware","date":"2019-01-17"},{"url":"https://go.recordedfuture.com/hubfs/reports/cta-2020-0603.pdf","date":"2020-06-03"},{"url":"https://dbac8a2e962120c65098-4d6abce208e5e17c2085b466b98c2083.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/evolution-ransomware-gangs-pdf-9-w-6821.pdf","date":"2020-09-18"},{"url":"https://research.checkpoint.com/2020/graphology-of-an-exploit-playbit/","date":"2020-10-26"}],"evidenceTotal":14,"provenance":"source"},"exploited":true,"otx":{"pulseCount":50,"pulses":[{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev 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Link"]},{"url":"http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"]},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064","tags":["Broken Link","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"]},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251","tags":["Broken Link","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"]},{"url":"https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135","tags":["Patch","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/","tags":["Exploit","Third Party 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expert-reviewed)"}],"reports":[],"affected":[],"advisories":[],"euvd":{"id":"EUVD-2016-8111","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2016-8111","exploited":true,"exploitedSince":"2021-11-03","provenance":"source"},"exploits":[{"id":40745,"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745","title":"Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k' Denial of Service (MS16-135)","type":"dos","platform":"windows","date":"2016-11-09","verified":false,"provenance":"source"},{"id":40823,"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823","title":"Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (1)","type":"local","platform":"windows","date":"2016-11-24","verified":false,"provenance":"source"},{"id":41015,"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015","title":"Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (2)","type":"local","platform":"windows","date":"2017-01-08","verified":false,"provenance":"source"}],"exploitSources":{"exploitdb":{"count":3,"earliest":"2016-11-09"},"pocGithub":{"count":4,"skipped":1,"earliest":"2017-01-13","earliestUrl":"https://github.com/heh3/CVE-2016-7255","repos":[{"name":"FSecureLABS/CVE-2016-7255","url":"https://github.com/FSecureLABS/CVE-2016-7255","stars":81,"created":"2017-03-02"},{"name":"yuvatia/page-table-exploitation","url":"https://github.com/yuvatia/page-table-exploitation","stars":11,"created":"2018-06-09"},{"name":"heh3/CVE-2016-7255","url":"https://github.com/heh3/CVE-2016-7255","stars":3,"created":"2017-01-13"},{"name":"bbolmin/cve-2016-7255_x86_x64","url":"https://github.com/bbolmin/cve-2016-7255_x86_x64","stars":1,"created":"2018-09-13"}]},"first":{"date":"2016-11-09","source":"Exploit-DB","url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745"},"provenance":"source"},"exploitRefs":["http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html","https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255","https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/","https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/","https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/"],"flow":[{"stage":"exploitation","techniques":["T1068"],"provenance":"ai"},{"stage":"primary","techniques":["T1548"],"provenance":"ai"},{"stage":"related","techniques":["T1608"],"provenance":"source","lowConfidence":true}],"timeline":[{"date":"2016-10-21","kind":"exploited-reported","label":"Exploitation 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