The kernel API in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 mishandles permissions, which allows l…

published 2016-11-10 9 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2016-8075

cvss: 5.5; version 3.0, NVD
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 4.1%; EPSS 4.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 90%
public exploits: 1; Exploit-DB

The kernel API in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 mishandles permissions, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

Timeline

2016-11-10 Published
2016-11-15 First public exploit (EDB-40766)

Exploit prediction

4.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 90% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

EDB-40766 Microsoft Windows Kernel - Registry Hive Loading 'nt!RtlEqualSid' Out-of-Bounds Read (MS16-138) dos, 2016-11-15

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
NVD	3.0	5.5	CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
NVD	2.0	2.1	AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

Classification

Weakness

CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-264 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls

References

exploit-db.com /exploits/40766/
exploit
docs.microsoft.com /en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-139
vendor-advisory
securityfocus.com /bid/94048
vdb-entry
securitytracker.com /id/1037253
vdb-entry

Sources

CVE List CVE-2016-7216
NVD CVE-2016-7216

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary