CVE DATABASE / CVE-2016-3309
CVE-2016-3309
Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2022-03-15.
Federal remediation due 2022-04-05.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
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; and Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3308, CVE-2016-3310, and CVE-2016-3311.
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 7.8 (HIGH) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| 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.securityfocus.com/bid/92297
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036572
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-098
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42960/
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-3309
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2026-04-22. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.