Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2 win32k.sys access control
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.2 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2. This impacts an unknown function of the file win32k.sys. The manipulation results in access control. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2016-0173. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 up to Server 2012 R2 (Operating System). It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown code block of the file win32k.sys. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-264. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The weakness was disclosed 05/10/2016 with Microsoft as MS16-062 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is available at technet.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2016-0173 since 12/04/2015. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details and a public exploit are known. This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.
The exploit is shared for download at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 91012 (MS16-062: Security Update for Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers (3158222)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 91218 (Microsoft Windows Kernel Mode Multiple Vulnerabilities (MS16-062)).
Applying the patch MS16-062 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at technet.microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (39960), Tenable (91012) and SecurityFocus (BID 90064†). The entries VDB-87161, VDB-87163, VDB-87164 and VDB-87165 are pretty similar. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/
- Product: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍
CVSSv2
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| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Access controlCWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 91012
Nessus Name: MS16-062: Security Update for Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers (3158222)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
OpenVAS ID: 802074
OpenVAS Name: Microsoft Kernel-Mode Drivers Privilege Elevation Vulnerabilities (3158222)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Exploit-DB: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: PatchStatus: 🔍
Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Patch: MS16-062
Timeline
12/04/2015 🔍05/10/2016 🔍
05/10/2016 🔍
05/10/2016 🔍
05/10/2016 🔍
05/11/2016 🔍
03/18/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: microsoft.comProduct: microsoft.com
Advisory: MS16-062
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2016-0173 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-0173
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-87162
OVAL: 🔍
SecurityFocus: 90064 - Microsoft Windows Kernel 'Win32k.sys' CVE-2016-0173 Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1035841
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215
See also: 🔍
Entry
Created: 05/11/2016 14:31Updated: 03/18/2025 19:13
Changes: 05/11/2016 14:31 (64), 04/07/2017 13:41 (19), 08/18/2022 09:49 (4), 08/18/2022 09:52 (1), 03/18/2025 19:13 (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
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