What is CVE-2016-0079?

CVE-2016-0079 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, classified under Information Disclosure. CVSS score: 5.0/10. Published 2016-10-14.

How severe is CVE-2016-0079?

Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.0 out of 10.

Information disclosure in Microsoft Windows 10

CVE-2016-0079

The kernel in Microsoft 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."

Vulnerability class: Information Disclosure

Published 2016-10-14 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 5.0 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.050 (92.0th percentile), scored 2026-10-02.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 92nd percentile — 92.0% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.050 · newest: 0.050 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Microsoft Windows 10 — versions 1511, 1607

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-200 — Information Disclosure

References

docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-124 (vendor-advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/93357 (vdb-entry)
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40608/ (exploit)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-0079?: CVE-2016-0079 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10, classified under Information Disclosure. CVSS score: 5.0/10. Published 2016-10-14.
How severe is CVE-2016-0079?: Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.0 out of 10.