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Vulnerabilities/CVE-2016-0040Public Intelligence Dossier
Source: microsoft · Limited verification•Last verified: •Collection Degraded
CVE-2016-0040ListedHIGH (raw)CVSS 7.8NVD-CWE-noinfo

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

Published: 10 Feb 2016•Last updated: 17 Jun 2026, 06:06 AM IST•Source identifier: secure@microsoft.com
Dossier completeness: source-provided sections 3 / 3 · rule guidance available. Missing source facts count as incomplete.
Official source
CISA KEV catalog
Listed
Added28 Mar 2022
Due18 Apr 2022
RansomwareUnknown
CVSS score
7.8HIGH (raw)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Metric sourcenvd@nist.gov
EPSS probability
24.3%0.243
Percentile98th
Weakness type
NVD-CWE-noinfo
No further CWE recorded
Remediation
Patch status unknown
No fixed version or KB recorded

Why It Matters

Analysis dossier

Why It Matters

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

SOC priority

Immediate Attention

Actively exploited (source statement)

Yes

Publicly disclosed

Unknown

Risk basis: CISA KEV exploitation signal; Microsoft or Microsoft-managed product relevance; HIGH severity; Source-confirmed exploitation or CISA KEV/ransomware metadata

Affected Products & Remediation

3 source-backed products
Affected products and versions (source)
  • microsoft windows 7 · version range not provided by source · NVD CPE · Source
  • microsoft windows server 2008 · r2 · NVD CPE · Source
  • microsoft windows vista · version range not provided by source · NVD CPE · Source
Recorded patch / KBNot provided by source

Vendor or catalog guidance (source)

  • CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Known exploitation (source facts)

Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".

CISA KEV
Listed
Exploited (source statement)
Yes
Publicly disclosed (source)
Unknown

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)

SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.

Matched microsoft-enterprise (Affected product: microsoft windows 7, Vendor: microsoft)

Exposure

  1. Identify affected Microsoft products and compare local builds with the MSRC advisory.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · The MSRC product/build mapping establishes applicability. · Rule microsoft-enterprise

Exploitation evidence

  1. Review the advisory's documented behavior on matching hosts before selecting a hunt.Telemetry: DeviceProcessEvents · Product family alone does not justify a CVE-specific detection. · Rule microsoft-enterprise

Response

  1. Confirm the source-stated KB or mitigation on matching assets.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A post-update inventory check verifies remediation. · Rule microsoft-enterprise

CISA KEV Record

Catalog entry
28 Mar 2022
Required action due
18 Apr 2022
Known ransomware use
Unknown

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Change History & Source Data

— No recorded material change

CNA / source
secure@microsoft.com
Record status · verification
UPDATED · CISA KEV confirmed
CPE
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:r2:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

Evidence & Provenance

4 public sources
CISA KEV CatalogAdded 2022-03-28docs.microsoft.comSource recordnvd.nist.govSource recordexploit-db.comSource record

Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.

Detection Hunting Query
Target: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities•Defender XDR
Detect endpoints exposed to CVE-2016-0040
Purpose: Exposure assessment (Category: Exposure Check)Why linked: Query metadata names CVE-2016-0040
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2016-0040"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel desc
Schema Checked · Not runtime validatedSource: SecOps Signal deterministic template · Limited verificationStatic screening: Passed structure and schema checks; tenant execution is not verified.
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Correlated briefings

SecOps Signal surfaces public advisory facts only. A missing value means the source has not published it, not that your environment is unaffected. No tenant inventory is connected.