Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Microsoft · Win32k
The Win32k kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows (including Vista SP2, Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, Server 2012, RT 8.1, 10 through version 1607, and Server 2016) contain a flaw in how privileges are handled. A local user can exploit it by running a crafted application to gain elevated privileges, and this requires local access with user interaction.
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."
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 1/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 20 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (Exploit-DB) was available 1 day before disclosure.
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence20 days before
- Public exploit codeExploit-DB1 day before
- Disclosedday 0
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+5 yrs
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Privilege EscalationTA0004
Local kernel driver flaw exploited for privilege escalation
allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application
Yields elevated privileges on the system
allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application
Lower-confidence links (1)
These come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict this CVE’s details (for example a public-facing technique on a bug that needs a user to open a file). Shown for completeness.
- Stage CapabilitiesT1608 CTID attack_to_cve Phase 1 "Uncategorized" mapping (not staged by impact)
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 55 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2016-7255 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Exploitation for Privilege EscalationT106831 general rules
- Exploiting CVE-2019-1388criticalstable
- Audit CVE Eventcriticaltest
- HackTool - SysmonEOP Executioncriticaltest
- InstallerFileTakeOver LPE CVE-2021-41379 File Create Eventcriticaltest
- Possible Coin Miner CPU Priority Paramcriticaltest
- Potential CVE-2021-41379 Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
- Potential SystemNightmare Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
- Sudo Privilege Escalation CVE-2019-14287 - Builtincriticaltest
Abuse Elevation Control MechanismT154824 general rules
- Abused Debug Privilege by Arbitrary Parent Processeshightest
- COM Hijack via Sdclthightest
- Credential Dumping Attempt Via Svchosthightest
- Potential Privilege Escalation via Local Kerberos Relay over LDAPhightest
- Regedit as Trusted Installerhightest
- Vulnerable Netlogon Secure Channel Connection Allowedhightest
- Registry Hive File Staged Outside Standard User Profile Pathhighexperimental
- Linux Doas Conf File Creationmediumstable
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX