CVE-2016-0165
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- High 7.8
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 22 Jun 2023
- A public exploit reference is listed
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.
Key facts
- Published
- 12 Apr 2016
- Last changed
- 21 Oct 2025
- Assigned by
- microsoft
- KEV added
- 22 Jun 2023
- KEV fix due
- 13 Jul 2023
- EPSS
- 13.68% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 96.548% 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
- 12 Apr 2016 Published
- 22 Jun 2023 CVE-2016-0165 added to CISA KEV
- 22 Jun 2023 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue