What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-7255?

CVE-2016-7255 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 89.4%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2016-7255?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2016-7255. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 89.4%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2016-7255?

Within 24 hours: Identify all affected systems and apply vendor patches immediately. Vendor patch is available.

Windows Vista CVE-2016-7255

HIGH

2016-11-10 secure@microsoft.com

Information Disclosure Microsoft Windows 10 1507 Windows 10 1607 Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2016 Windows 7 Windows 8 1 Windows Rt 8 1 Windows Vista Windows 10 1511

7.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Impact	High risk. Attribution to APT28/Fancy Bear (Russian GRU Unit 26165) and combination with other zero-days indicates use in high-value espionage operations targeting government and political organizations.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	APT28 used a malicious document to achieve initial code execution, then chained this win32k privilege escalation to gain SYSTEM access. The elevated privileges enabled deployment of the group's signature Sofacy/X-Agent implant for persistent intelligence collection.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: In CISA KEV with patch available.

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) Patch available 89.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 26, 2026

The Win32k kernel-mode driver in Windows Vista through Windows Server 2016 allows local privilege escalation, exploited alongside CVE-2016-7256 in targeted attacks attributed to the Strontium (APT28/Fancy Bear) group.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 26, 2026 - 11:18 CVSS 7.8

A privilege escalation vulnerability in win32k.sys kernel-mode drivers allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. Exploited by the Strontium/APT28 group in November 2016 alongside a separate font processing vulnerability.

RemediationAI

Apply Microsoft security update MS16-135. Enable kernel exploit mitigations. Monitor for APT28/Sofacy indicators of compromise.

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 win32k.sys vulnerability allows local code execution in kernel mode through crafted application interaction with the Window Manager subsystem. The exploit was part of a multi-vulnerability attack chain used by Russian state-sponsored actors.

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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:N/UI:R/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

None

User Interaction

Required

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Added to CISA KEV

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 cisa

CISA KEV

PoC Detected

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 vuln.today

Public exploit code

Patch released

Oct 22, 2025 - 00:15 nvd

Patch available

CVE Published

Nov 10, 2016 - 07:00 nvd

HIGH 7.8

DescriptionNVD

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."

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2016-7255 presents notable security risk rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Severe

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

9.2/10

Composite threat intelligence

EPSS Score

89.4%

Top 0% exploitable

Threat Intel

1 source

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

8 sources

Confidence: High

NVD

CVE.org

CISA KEV

EPSS THREAT

Exploit-DB

GitHub

VulDB

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 Yes

Public POC Yes

EPSS 89.4%

Patch available Yes

Active threat Yes

Deciding rule

In CISA KEV with patch available

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

Very High

Priority Score

208

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: +50

EPSS: +89

CVSS: +39

PoC: +20

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: +10

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1507:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1511:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_rt_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Threat IntelligenceMISP

Threat Actors

APT32

ATT&CK Techniques (observed)

T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Sources: MITRE ATT&CK

References

Advisories & patches

PATCH https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/93411 REF http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/ REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94064 REF http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037251 REF https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/ REF https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html REF https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255

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