Vulnerability

CVE-2016-7256

High· 8.8KEVCVSS8.8EPSS56%

.rules3/5

Microsoft Windows Open Type Font Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows font library improperly handles specially crafted embedded fonts. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could take control of the affected system.

Threat signal

100/100

Severe

Severity

high

CVSS

8.8

EPSS

56%

Active

KEV

CISA KEV — actively exploited

1459d overdue

AffectedMicrosoft — Windows

Added to KEV

2022-05-25

Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)

2022-06-15

Required action (CISA verbatim)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Vendor advisory + references

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7256

CISA description: “A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows font library improperly handles specially crafted embedded fonts. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could take control of the affected system.”

CVSS

v3.1Open in FIRST calculator →

8.8/ 10HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack VectorNetworkExploitable remotely over the internet — no local access needed.
Attack ComplexityLowNo special conditions — exploit works reliably.
Privileges RequiredNoneUnauthenticated — no credentials needed.
User InteractionRequiredRequires user action (click, file open, etc).
ScopeUnchangedImpact contained to the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality ImpactHighTotal disclosure of sensitive data.
Integrity ImpactHighTotal compromise of integrity — full data modification possible.
Availability ImpactHighTotal loss of availability — full DoS possible.

EPSS

Exploit prediction · 30-day horizonFIRST.org →

55.5%

probability of exploitation in next 30 days

p98

higher than 98% of all CVEs

3-day trend↑ 0pp

Statistically about to be weaponized — top-tier triage urgency.

Vendor VEX

No VEX statements published for CVE-2016-7256. Vendors publish VEX (Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange) to assert per-product whether a CVE is actually exploitable in their distribution.

SSVCAct

Active exploitation with total impact on essential/support systems

exploitation: active
automatable: yes
impact: total
mission: support

Lifecycle

2022-05-25Added to CISA KEVransomware: Unknown
2022-05-25Published
2022-06-15Federal patch due (BOD 22-01)
2026-06-12Last modified1 source

No source-event history recorded yet. New revisions will appear here as ingestors re-fetch this CVE.