CVE-2016-3309

The kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1;...

7.8 HighIn KEVPublic exploit

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; and Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3308, CVE-2016-3310, and CVE-2016-3311.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

20.5%Up 18.5 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

Record: CVE-2016-3309
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List 7.8

Record: CVE-2016-3309
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2016-4341 7.8

Record: EUVD-2016-4341
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-7cmx-3w9q-4v5g 7.8

The kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1;...

Record: GHSA-7cmx-3w9q-4v5g
CVSS 3.0: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

CISA KEV No score

Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode.

Record: CVE-2016-3309
Weakness: CWE-264
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Exploit-DB	Microsoft Windows 10 RS2 (x64) - 'win32kfull!bFill' Pool Overflow	2017-10-06
PoC in GitHub	siberas/CVE-2016-3309_Reloaded	2017-10-06

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	exploitation
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, NVD, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2016-3309 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Microsoft Windows, published August 9, 2016. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since March 15, 2022. EUVD reports exploitation since March 15, 2022. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 20.5%, the 97th percentile. No source names a fixed version.