# CVE-2016-0180: Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability CVE-2016-0180 is fixed in 23 products on 1 platform, first by KB3156421, released May 10, 2016. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High. - Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-0180 - Priority: High - CVSS: n/a (Important) - EPSS: 0.0149 - CISA KEV: not listed - Exploited (vendor report): no - Publicly disclosed: no - Vendor exploitability assessment: Exploitation Less Likely - Published: May 10, 2016 - Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2016-0180 ## Description

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Windows when the Windows kernel fails to properly handle parsing of certain symbolic links. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could potentially access privileged registry keys and thereby elevate permissions. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to log on to the system. An attacker could then run a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerability and take control of an affected system.

The update addresses this vulnerability by correcting how the Windows kernel parses symbolic links.

## Where it's fixed | Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released | |---|---|---|---|---| | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1511 for 32-bit Systems | 10586.318 | [KB3156421](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3156421.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems | 10586.318 | [KB3156421](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3156421.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems | 10240.16854 | [KB3156387](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3156387.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 10 for x64-based Systems | 10240.16854 | [KB3156387](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3156387.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for 32-bit systems | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows 8.1 for x64-based systems | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows RT 8.1 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 1 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Service Pack 2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Vista Service Pack 2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | | Microsoft | Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | | [KB3153171](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/microsoft/kb3153171.md) | May 10, 2016 | --- Data as of 2026-11-07T18:46:35Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. Terms, including what needs a written agreement: https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar/use-the-data Product names, logos and trademarks shown on Patch Radar belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify the software each security fix applies to and to help readers find their platform. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, those owners, and Patchblox is not affiliated with any of them.