+44 1865 950 828 Secure Your Business
Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2016-7255 Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Win32k kernel-mode driver fails to properly handle objects in memory which allows for privilege escalation. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to run code in kernel mode.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

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."

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Microsoft Win32k. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 3 May 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited Microsoft Flaws

Get alerts for MicrosoftWe email you when a new Microsoft vulnerability is confirmed as exploited. Add more vendors on Threat Watch.

By signing up you agree to receive Threat Watch alerts. Unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

CVE-2026-96951Microsoft Windows Command Injection VulnerabilityAdded 13 Oct 2026CVE-2026-65660Microsoft SharePoint Code Injection VulnerabilityAdded 25 Sep 2026CVE-2026-81963Microsoft Windows Link Following VulnerabilityAdded 8 Sep 2026CVE-2026-85880Microsoft Windows Heap-Based Buffer Overflow VulnerabilityAdded 8 Sep 2026CVE-2019-1068Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityAdded 26 Aug 2026CVE-2026-33824Microsoft Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Service Extensions Double Free VulnerabilityAdded 18 Aug 2026

All 390 exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2016-7255 and every other exploited flaw on the list.

Check My Exposure
Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2016-7255
  3. CVE record: CVE-2016-7255
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privileg
  6. github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
  7. exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/
  8. exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/
  9. securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cv
  10. exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/
  11. securitytracker.com/id/1037251
  12. docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135