---
id: "CVE-2016-0167"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-0167"]
title: "Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.05683
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Win32k", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "ransomware", "self-hosted", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["non-windows", "patched-windows"]
published_at: "2016-04-12T23:59:30+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0167", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0167", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0167", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft Win32k, the Windows kernel-mode graphics driver, contains a flaw that lets a crafted application escalate privileges. An attacker who already runs code on a Windows machine can gain higher privileges, and the sources report it is exploited in the wild and tied to ransomware.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Win32k affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the Windows build against Microsoft's MS16-014 bulletin listing, using winver or systeminfo and the installed hotfixes (unknown exact KB from sources).

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft update for CVE-2016-0167 per vendor instructions (CISA KEV required action); exact KB and version unknown from sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0167
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0167
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0167

## From the sources

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.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_