CVE-2016-0040
Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- High 7.8
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 28 Mar 2022
- A public exploit reference is listed
Description
The kernel in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
Key facts
- Published
- 10 Feb 2016
- Last changed
- 21 Oct 2025
- Assigned by
- microsoft
- KEV added
- 28 Mar 2022
- KEV fix due
- 18 Apr 2022
- EPSS
- 24.283% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 97.896% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
- SSVC (CISA)
- Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total
Severity scores
Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.
- 7.8CVSS 3.1, Highfrom CISA (ADP container)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
What to do
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action
Historical context and remediation
This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.
No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.
Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | n/a |
|
Timeline
- 10 Feb 2016 Published
- 28 Mar 2022 CVE-2016-0040 added to CISA KEV
- 28 Mar 2022 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue