---
id: CVE-2016-7255
title: >-
  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…
summary: >-
  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…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
vendor: microsoft
product: windows_10_1507
affected:
  - windows_10_1507
  - windows_10_1511
  - windows_10_1607
  - windows_7
  - windows_8.1
  - windows_rt_8.1
  - windows_server_2008
  - windows_server_2008 = r2
  - windows_server_2012
  - windows_server_2012 = r2
  - windows_server_2016
  - windows_vista
published: '2016-11-10'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T04:17:32.400'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7255'
references:
  - url: >-
      http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
  - url: >-
      http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40745/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40823/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41015/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - in-the-wild
  - exploit-available
  - kev
exploited: true
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: active
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2021-03-05T00:00:00+00:00'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-11T18:15:42.732Z'
epss: 0.80968
epssPercentile: 0.99623
kev: true
kevDateAdded: '2021-11-03'
kevDueDate: '2022-05-03'
kevRansomware: true
exploits:
  exploitdb: true
  github: 5
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/heh3/CVE-2016-7255'
    - 'https://github.com/FSecureLABS/CVE-2016-7255'
    - 'https://github.com/homjxi0e/CVE-2016-7255'
  checkedAt: '2026-09-21T15:23:34.863Z'
---

## Overview

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."

## Affected

- `windows_10_1507`
- `windows_10_1511`
- `windows_10_1607`
- `windows_7`
- `windows_8.1`
- `windows_rt_8.1`
- `windows_server_2008`
- `windows_server_2008 = r2`
- `windows_server_2012`
- `windows_server_2012 = r2`
- `windows_server_2016`
- `windows_vista`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.