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CVE-2016-0165: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: yes — in CISA KEV since 2023-06-22
• EPSS: 13.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: yes
• Published: 2016-04-12 · updated 2026-06-17

Description

The kernel-mode driver 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, and Windows 10 Gold and 1511 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0143 and CVE-2016-0167.

Affected products

• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 1511: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 7: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 8.1: all versions
• Microsoft Windows RT 8.1: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008: r2-sp1
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012: r2
• Microsoft Windows Vista: all versions

References

• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035529
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035532
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44480/
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035529
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035532
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44480/
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0165

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