CVE-2016-3298KEV · OVERDUE

Microsoft Internet Explorer Messaging API Information Disclosure Vulnerability

Medium · published October 14, 2016

Patch now

The score understates this — it's already being exploited

CVSS calls it medium at 6.5. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 98.4th percentile for exploit probability.

1591
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
6.5
EPSS
33%
Percentile
98.4
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

⚠️ A crafted website can reveal the existence of any file on your system without a second thought! Say hello to the Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability! 🔍 This vulnerability is like a nosy neighbor peeking into your windows to see what you've got inside—without you even realizing it! They can see which files are present, but they can’t open or take them, thankfully. An attacker could exploit this flaw to identify sensitive files on your system, potentially paving the way for more dangerous attacks. It's a medium-level risk that could compromise your data privacy and lead to further exploitation if not addressed.

Put simply

This vulnerability is like a nosy neighbor peeking into your windows to see what you've got inside—without you even realizing it! They can see which files are present, but they can’t open or take them, thankfully. This vulnerability exists in Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in older Windows versions. It allows attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files through specially crafted web content, without requiring user interaction.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this flaw to identify sensitive files on your system, potentially paving the way for more dangerous attacks. It's a medium-level risk that could compromise your data privacy and lead to further exploitation if not addressed. To protect yourself, ensure you're using a supported web browser and upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer or switch to a more secure alternative. Additionally, consider applying all relevant Windows updates from Microsoft to mitigate the risk. You've got this! With a few updates and some vigilance, you can ensure your systems stay secure! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
6.5 · MEDIUM
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.33332 · 98.4th percentile
Published
2016-10-14T01:00Z
KEV added
2022-05-24 · due 2022-06-14
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 24 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Jun 14
    kev
  • 14 OCT 01:00Z
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allow…
    cvelistv5