What is CVE-2009-2516?

CVE-2009-2516 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, classified under Improper Input Validation. CVSS score: 7.1/10. Published 2009-10-14.

How severe is CVE-2009-2516?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.1 out of 10.

NULL pointer dereference in Microsoft Windows 2000

CVE-2009-2516

The kernel in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, and Server 2008 Gold does not properly validate data sent from user mode, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted PE .exe file that triggers a NULL pointer dereference during chain traversal, aka "Windows Kernel NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability."

Vulnerability class: Drupalgeddon 2 (CVE-2018-7600)

Published 2009-10-14 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.1 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.013 (70.0th percentile), scored 2026-10-01.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 70th percentile — 70.0% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.013 · newest: 0.013 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6264 (signature, vdb-entry)
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-058 (vendor-advisory)
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-286A.html (US Government Resource, third-party-advisory)
www.nsfocus.com/en/advisories/0903.html

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2516?: CVE-2009-2516 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, classified under Improper Input Validation. CVSS score: 7.1/10. Published 2009-10-14.
How severe is CVE-2009-2516?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.1 out of 10.