What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-0051?

CVE-2016-0051 has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 65.1%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2016-0051?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2016-0051. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 65.1%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2016-0051?

Within 24 hours: Identify all affected systems and apply vendor patches immediately. Monitor vendor channels for patch availability.

Microsoft CVE-2016-0051

HIGH

Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls (CWE-264)

2016-02-10 secure@microsoft.com

Privilege Escalation Microsoft

7.8

CVSS 3.0 · NVD

View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-264 OWASP Top 10:2025 A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components ASVS 5.0 V14 - Configuration Dependency management, component inventory MITRE ATT&CK 1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Impact	CVSS 7.8, EPSS 65.1%, PoC available. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Windows versions (Vista through Windows 10). It serves as a reliable post-compromise escalation primitive for attackers who have already achieved initial code execution as a standard user.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker gains initial access to a corporate workstation via phishing. Running as a standard user, they execute the WebDAV privilege escalation exploit to gain SYSTEM privileges. With SYSTEM access, they dump cached domain credentials using Mimikatz, disable security software, and begin lateral movement across the Active Directory domain.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%.

No patch listed yet 65.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 26, 2026

Microsoft Windows WebDAV client in Vista through Windows 10 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. Local attackers can exploit a flaw in the WebDAV Mini-Redirector driver to elevate privileges from standard user to SYSTEM, enabling complete local system compromise.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 26, 2026 - 11:18 CVSS 7.8

Local privilege escalation via Windows WebDAV client (Mini-Redirector) driver allows standard users to gain SYSTEM privileges.

RemediationAI

Apply the February 2016 Microsoft security update (MS16-016). If the WebDAV client feature is not required, disable the WebClient service. Implement application control policies to prevent unauthorized exploit execution.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The WebDAV Mini-Redirector (mrxdav.sys) kernel driver contains a vulnerability that allows a local user to send crafted IOCTL requests or trigger specific WebDAV operations that corrupt kernel memory. Successful exploitation elevates the attacker's process to SYSTEM privileges, the highest privilege level on Windows systems.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH

AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

PoC Detected

Apr 12, 2025 - 10:46 vuln.today

Public exploit code

CVE Published

Feb 10, 2016 - 11:59 nvd

HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

The WebDAV client 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 "WebDAV Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2016-0051 presents notable security risk rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. With an EPSS score of 65%, this vulnerability faces very high likelihood of exploitation. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and consider compensating controls in the interim.

Business Impact: High

Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score

7.0/10

Composite threat intelligence

EPSS Score

65.1%

Top 2% exploitable

Threat Intel

1 sources

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

6 sources

Confidence: High

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS POC (1) THREAT

Exploit-DB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 65.1%

Patch available No

Active threat Yes

Deciding rule

HIGH severity + EPSS > 10%

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Out-of-Cycle

Exploitation· derived

Active

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

High

Priority Score

149

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +65

CVSS: +39

PoC: +20

Weaponized: +15

Threat intel: +10

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.