Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV
Yes. CVE-2016-3309, Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 15 Mar 2022, 2044 days after it was published. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. It affects Microsoft Windows. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code in kernel mode.
| Vendor | Microsoft (391 exploited CVEs in KEV) |
| Product | Windows |
| Vulnerability | Microsoft Windows Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability |
| Weakness | CWE-264 |
| Published | 9 Aug 2016 |
| Added to KEV | 15 Mar 2022 |
| Reported by (CNA) | microsoft |
Yes. CISA added CVE-2016-3309 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 15 Mar 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild.
Yes, CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Apply updates per vendor instructions. Check Microsoft's advisory for the fixed versions, and if you can't patch quickly, restrict access to the affected Windows and watch it for signs of compromise.
Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in March 2022 · Microsoft scorecard · act-now radar.
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