CVE-2016-7255

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, 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."

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

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

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

81.0%Up 79.0 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

Record: CVE-2016-7255
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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-2016-7255
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2016-8111 7.8

Record: EUVD-2016-8111
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-6rfx-wjcx-jvgf 7.8

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

Record: GHSA-6rfx-wjcx-jvgf
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 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.

Record: CVE-2016-7255
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 Kernel - 'win32k' Denial of Service (MS16-135)	2016-11-09
Exploit-DB	Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (1)	2016-11-24
Exploit-DB	Microsoft Windows Kernel - 'win32k.sys NtSetWindowLongPtr' Local Privilege Escalation (MS16-135) (2)	2017-01-08
PoC in GitHub	heh3/CVE-2016-7255	2017-01-13
PoC in GitHub	FSecureLABS/CVE-2016-7255	2017-03-02
PoC in GitHub	homjxi0e/CVE-2016-7255	2017-04-15
PoC in GitHub	yuvatia/page-table-exploitation	2018-06-09
PoC in GitHub	bbolmin/cve-2016-7255_x86_x64	2018-09-13
Metasploit	Win32k ConsoleControl Offset Confusion	2021-02-09

History

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

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

In short

CVE-2016-7255 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Microsoft Win32k, published November 10, 2016. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since November 3, 2021. EUVD reports exploitation since November 3, 2021. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 81.0%, the 99th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

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