CVE-2016-7256 — Microsoft Windows Open Type Font Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Overview
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.
Vulnerability details
- CVE ID
- CVE-2016-7256
- Vulnerability
- Microsoft Windows Open Type Font Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Affected products
- Microsoft: Windows
- Severity
- HIGH
- Exploitation status
- Actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Published
- 2022-05-25
Remediation guidance
CVE-2016-7256 is in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog — U.S. federal civilian agencies are required to remediate it under Binding Operational Directive 22-01. Treat it as a priority for every environment.
Apply the vendor's official security update for Microsoft the affected product as soon as possible. Where a patch is unavailable, apply vendor mitigations or isolate/segment exposed systems.
Hunt for indicators of compromise tied to this vulnerability and confirm logging/EDR coverage on affected assets.
Authoritative references
Remediate CVE-2016-7256 — and stay ahead of the next one
CVE-2016-7256 is listed in the CISA KEV catalog as actively exploited — treat remediation as urgent. Scan your domain free to see whether CVE-2016-7256 and other Microsoft issues affect you and get a prioritized remediation report (full report from ₹999) — or stream the full feed of 1,600+ actively-exploited CVEs straight into your SOC.
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