Security readout for executives and security teams
CVE-2016-7255 lets an attacker who can run a crafted application on vulnerable Windows systems gain higher privileges. It is not a remote entry point by itself, but it can turn a foothold into full system compromise. CISA KEV indicates known exploitation, so remaining exposure deserves urgent attention. Exposure is most likely on legacy or unpatched Windows Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 1507/1511/1607, Windows RT 8.1, Server 2012, and Server 2016 systems covered by MS16-135. Treat this as urgent remediation for any remaining legacy Windows estate. The business risk is not initial remote compromise, but rapid privilege escalation after a user or endpoint is compromised. Mitigation focus: Apply Microsoft MS16-135 security updates where applicable.; Identify and retire unsupported Windows versions where patching is unavailable.; Prioritize internet-facing, user workstation, and privileged administration systems..
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Privilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2016-7255 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- 40823CVE reference · exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- 41015CVE reference · exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- 40745CVE reference · exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
- MS16-135CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_MS
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7255CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.