CVE DATABASE / CVE-2016-0165
CVE-2016-0165
Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2023-06-22.
Federal remediation due 2023-07-13.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
The kernel-mode driver 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 "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0143 and CVE-2016-0167.
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 7.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | REQUIRED |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Affected products
Use our free CVE Lookup tool for the latest NVD record, or browse the full CISA KEV catalog.
References
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035529
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035532
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-039
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44480/
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0165
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2026-04-21. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.