CVE-2016-7255
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- High 7.8
- Exploited: added to CISA KEV 3 Nov 2021
- Used in ransomware campaigns
- A public exploit reference is listed
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."
Key facts
- Published
- 10 Nov 2016
- Last changed
- 10 Sep 2026
- Assigned by
- microsoft
- KEV added
- 3 Nov 2021
- KEV fix due
- 3 May 2022
- Used in ransomware
- Yes, according to CISA
- EPSS
- 80.968% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.638% 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 Nov 2016 Published
- 3 Nov 2021 CVE-2016-7255 added to CISA KEV
- 3 Nov 2021 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue