CVE-2016-0185
Microsoft Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 May 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
Media Center in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Media Center link (aka .mcl) file, aka "Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 69.85% probability · 99th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 12 May 2016
- CISA KEV
- Listed 3 November 2021 · due 3 May 2022
- Affected
- microsoft/windows 7 · microsoft/windows 8.1 · microsoft/windows vista
- Source
- secure@microsoft.com
EPSS 69.8% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0185
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90023Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035832Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-16-277Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-059Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39805/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90023Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035832Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-16-277Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-059Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39805/Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-0185US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.