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CVE-2016-7255: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: yes — in CISA KEV since 2021-11-03
• EPSS: 81.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: yes
• Published: 2016-11-10 · updated 2026-09-10

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 products

• Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1507: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 1511: all versions
• Microsoft Windows 10 1607: 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 Server 2016: all versions
• Microsoft Windows Vista: all versions

References

• http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
• https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
• https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
• https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/
• http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/

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