Actively exploited · Published Nov 10, 2016 · Assigned by microsoft
CVE-2016-7255
High 7.8 Exploited Ransomware
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in Win32k from Microsoft. Attackers are actively exploiting it in the wild (listed by CISA on November 3, 2021). It has been used in ransomware campaigns. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 81.0% (higher than 99.6% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: public proof-of-concept code. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA guidance
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Federal agencies must remediate by May 3, 2022.
Official 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."
Affected products (as reported)
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255 x_refsource_MISC
- 40823 exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- 41015 exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/ x_refsource_MISC
- 40745 exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- 1037251 vdb-entry, x_refsource_SECTRACK
- MS16-135 vendor-advisory, x_refsource_MS
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild/ x_refsource_MISC
- 94064 vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255 government-resource