CVE-2016-3376

HIGH

Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers - Privilege Escalation via Crafted Application

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2016-3376. PoCs published by Google Security Research.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability in the nt!RtlValidRelativeSecurityDescriptor function, causing a crash or potential memory disclosure when loading a corrupted registry hive file. The issue arises from insufficient validation of security descriptor lengths, leading to out-of-bounds memory access.

Description

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-2016-3266, CVE-2016-7185, and CVE-2016-7211.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · textdoswindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40601

This exploit leverages a Windows kernel vulnerability in the nt!RtlValidRelativeSecurityDescriptor function, causing a crash or potential memory disclosure when loading a corrupted registry hive file. The issue arises from insufficient validation of security descriptor lengths, leading to out-of-bounds memory access.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos | Info Leak
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Microsoft Windows 7 and 8.1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Ability to load a corrupted registry hive file via RegLoadAppKey() API
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036996
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93388
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ms
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-123

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.1282
EPSS Percentile 95.8%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-269
Status published
Products (11)
microsoft/windows_10
microsoft/windows_10 1511
microsoft/windows_10 1607
microsoft/windows_10 1703
microsoft/windows_7
microsoft/windows_8.1
microsoft/windows_rt_8.1
microsoft/windows_server_2008
microsoft/windows_server_2008 r2 sp1 (2 CPE variants)
microsoft/windows_server_2012 (2 CPE variants)
... and 1 more
Published Oct 14, 2016
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026