What is CVE-2016-7459?

CVE-2016-7459 is a high-severity vulnerability in VMware Vcenter Server, classified under Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE). CVSS score: 7.7/10. Published 2016-12-29.

How severe is CVE-2016-7459?

High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.7 out of 10.

XXE in VMware Vcenter Server

CVE-2016-7459

VMware vCenter Server 5.5 before U3e and 6.0 before U2a allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a (1) Log Browser, (2) Distributed Switch setup, or (3) Content Library XML document containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.

Vulnerability class: XXE (XML External Entity)

Published 2016-12-29 · last modified 2026-06-17.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.7 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.019 (78.7th percentile), scored 2026-10-02.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 79th percentile — 78.7% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.019 · newest: 0.019 · change: 0.000

Affected products

VMware Vcenter Server — versions 5.0, 5.5, 6.0

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-611 — Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE)

References

www.securityfocus.com/bid/94486 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
www.securitytracker.com/id/1037329 (vdb-entry)
www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2016-0022.html (Patch, Vendor Advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-7459?: CVE-2016-7459 is a high-severity vulnerability in VMware Vcenter Server, classified under Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE). CVSS score: 7.7/10. Published 2016-12-29.
How severe is CVE-2016-7459?: High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.7 out of 10.