Is CVE-2016-3309 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-3309 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on March 15, 2022.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2016-3309?

CVE-2016-3309 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

CVE-2016-3309

HIGH · CVSS 7.8CISA KEV: actively exploitedEPSS 20.5%EU EUVD: exploited

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; and Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3308, CVE-2016-3310, and CVE-2016-3311.

Key facts

CVSS score: 7.8 (v3.1)
Severity: HIGH
CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS score: 20.5% (97th percentile)
In CISA KEV: Yes, added March 15, 2022
In EU EUVD: Yes (EUVD-2016-4341)
Published: August 9, 2016
NVD last modified: June 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to the KEV catalog on March 15, 2022; federal remediation due April 5, 2022. Known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2016-4341 in the EU Vulnerability Database. ENISA flags it as known exploited. Last updated in EUVD on October 21, 2025.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

microsoft / windows 10 1507
microsoft / windows 10 1511
microsoft / windows 10 1607
microsoft / windows 7
microsoft / windows 8.1
microsoft / windows rt 8.1
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2008
microsoft / windows server 2012
microsoft / windows server 2012
microsoft / windows vista

Certified products that may be affected

9 FIPS 140 or Common Criteria certified products, from automated matching by sec-certs.org.

Windows 7 BitLocker™ Drive Encryption - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1332 - historical
Microsoft Windows 7 Kernel Mode Cryptographic Primitives Library (cng.sys) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1328 - historical
Windows Vista Enhanced Cryptographic Provider (RSAENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1002 - historical
Windows Vista Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider (DSSENH) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 1003 - historical
Windows Vista Boot Manager (bootmgr) - Microsoft Corporation - FIPS 140 978 - historical

See all 9 in the Security Certifications Explorer.

References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92297(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036572(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-098(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-3309(US Government Resource)
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42960/(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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