---
id: "CVE-2016-7255"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-7255"]
title: "Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.80968
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: ["patched-windows"]
published_at: "2016-11-10T07:00:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-7255", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-7255", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00"}]
---

# Microsoft Win32k: Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Microsoft's Win32k kernel-mode driver mishandles objects in memory, which lets a local user escalate privileges. A successful attacker runs code in kernel mode, which gives full control of the Windows machine.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Win32k affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2016-7255 per vendor instructions (CISA KEV required action).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-7255
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-7255
- 2026-10-23T21:57:34+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255

## From the sources

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."

---

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