# CVE-2016-0040: Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-0040-microsoft-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-03-28. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-0040 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-03-28

The kernel in Microsoft Windows allows local users to gain elevated privileges via a crafted application. This vulnerability affects legacy versions of Windows including Vista, Server 2008, and Windows 7.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-0040 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2016-0040 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 28 March 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2016-0040?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 28 March 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2 SP1; Microsoft Windows 7 SP1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-0040?** A patch was published on 2016-02-10: Microsoft released security bulletin MS16-014 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-0040 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-0040?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Vista SP2
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 SP2, R2 SP1
- Microsoft Windows 7 SP1

## Timeline

- 2016-02-10: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2016-02-10: patched: Microsoft released security bulletin MS16-014
- 2022-03-28: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

## Related threats

- [Windows BitLocker heap buffer overflow with physical attack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97015-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-bitlocker-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows Shell type confusion privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97013-access-of-resource-using-incompatible-type-type-confusion-in)
- [Microsoft Windows VMSwitch out-of-bounds read privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97002-out-of-bounds-read-in-windows-vmswitch-allows-an-authorized)
- [Microsoft Windows USM Communication Manager null pointer dereference](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97000-null-pointer-dereference-in-windows-usm-communication-manager)
- [Microsoft Windows Winsock use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96994-use-after-free-in-winsock-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to)