CVE-2016-0167

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

  • High 7.8
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 3 Nov 2021
  • Used in ransomware campaigns

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-2016-0165.

Key facts

Published
12 Apr 2016
Last changed
21 Oct 2025
Assigned by
microsoft
KEV added
3 Nov 2021
KEV fix due
3 May 2022
Used in ransomware
Yes, according to CISA
EPSS
5.661% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 93.101% 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.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
n/an/a
  • n/a (affected)

Timeline

  1. 12 Apr 2016 Published
  2. 3 Nov 2021 CVE-2016-0167 added to CISA KEV
  3. 3 Nov 2021 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

References