How severe is CVE-2016-0185?

CVE-2016-0185 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-0185 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-0185 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2021-11-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-0185?

CVE-2016-0185 primarily affects Microsoft Windows 7. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-0185?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.

Does CVE-2016-0185 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?

Yes. CVE-2016-0185 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2016-0223. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2021-11-03).

When was CVE-2016-0185 published?

CVE-2016-0185 was published on 2016-05-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-0185

CVE-2016-0185 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7 with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2021-11-03).

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 9.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 70% (99th percentile)
Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2021-11-03)
EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2016-0223
EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2021-11-03)
Affected product: Microsoft Windows 7
Published: 2016-05-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

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."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-0185?: 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."
How severe is CVE-2016-0185?: CVE-2016-0185 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-0185 being actively exploited?: Yes. CVE-2016-0185 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2021-11-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-0185?: CVE-2016-0185 primarily affects Microsoft Windows 7. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-0185?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
Does CVE-2016-0185 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?: Yes. CVE-2016-0185 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2016-0223. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2021-11-03).
When was CVE-2016-0185 published?: CVE-2016-0185 was published on 2016-05-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7:-:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_8.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:-:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*

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