# CVE-2016-0073: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can gain elevated privileges by exploiting a Windows kernel vulnerability that allows access to sensitive registry information via crafted API calls.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gx3r-rfxx-c7x6

## What is CVE-2016-0073?

CVE-2016-0073 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Oct 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The kernel in Microsoft Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application that makes an API call to access sensitive information in the registry, aka "Windows Kernel Local Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0075.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-0073?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Rt 8.1, Microsoft Windows Server 2012.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-0073?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-0073 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-0073 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-0073 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows - DeviceApi CMApi User Hive Impersonation Privilege Escalation (MS16-124) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 10

- [CVE-2015-2426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2426/): Microsoft Windows Adobe Type Manager Library Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1769/): Microsoft Windows Mount Manager Privilege Escalation (medium 6.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1467/): Windows Hard Link Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-26424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26424/): Windows TCP/IP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2021-28476](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28476/): Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-0073 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-0073 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, published on 14 Oct 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-0073 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 10. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0073/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0073/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-0073
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0073
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-0073

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0073/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.