How severe is CVE-2016-6473?

CVE-2016-6473 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-6473 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (46th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-6473?

CVE-2016-6473 primarily affects Cisco Ios. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6473?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2016-6473 published?

CVE-2016-6473 was published on 2016-12-14 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-6473

CVE-2016-6473 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-74.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
CVSS v2: 6.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (46th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-74
Affected product: Cisco Ios
Published: 2016-12-14
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in Cisco IOS on Catalyst Switches and Nexus 9300 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a Layer 2 network storm. More Information: CSCuu69332, CSCux07028. Known Affected Releases: 15.2(3)E. Known Fixed Releases: 12.2(50)SE4 12.2(50)SE5 12.2(50)SQ5 12.2(50)SQ6 12.2(50)SQ7 12.2(52)EY4 12.2(52)SE1 12.2(53)EX 12.2(53)SE 12.2(53)SE1 12.2(53)SE2 12.2(53)SG10 12.2(53)SG11 12.2(53)SG2 12.2(53)SG9 12.2(54)SG1 12.2(55)EX3 12.2(55)SE 12.2(55)SE1 12.2(55)SE10 12.2(55)SE2 12.2(55)SE3 12.2(55)SE4 12.2(55)SE5 12.2(55)SE6 12.2(55)SE7 12.2(55)SE8 12.2(55)SE9 12.2(58)EZ 12.2(58)SE1 12.2(58)SE2 12.2(60)EZ 12.2(60)EZ1 12.2(60)EZ2 12.2(60)EZ3 12.2(60)EZ4 12.2(60)EZ5 12.2(60)EZ6 12.2(60)EZ7 12.2(60)EZ8 15.0(1)EY2 15.0(1)SE 15.0(1)SE2 15.0(1)SE3 15.0(2)EA 15.0(2)EB 15.0(2)EC 15.0(2)ED 15.0(2)EH 15.0(2)EJ 15.0(2)EJ1 15.0(2)EK1 15.0(2)EX 15.0(2)EX1 15.0(2)EX3 15.0(2)EX4 15.0(2)EX5 15.0(2)EY 15.0(2)EY1 15.0(2)EY2 15.0(2)EZ 15.0(2)SE 15.0(2)SE1 15.0(2)SE2 15.0(2)SE3 15.0(2)SE4 15.0(2)SE5 15.0(2)SE6 15.0(2)SE7 15.0(2)SE9 15.0(2)SG10 15.0(2)SG3 15.0(2)SG6 15.0(2)SG7 15.0(2)SG8 15.0(2)SG9 15.0(2a)EX5 15.1(2)SG 15.1(2)SG1 15.1(2)SG2 15.1(2)SG3 15.1(2)SG4 15.1(2)SG5 15.1(2)SG6 15.2(1)E 15.2(1)E1 15.2(1)E2 15.2(1)E3 15.2(1)EY 15.2(2)E 15.2(2)E3 15.2(2b)E.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6473?: A vulnerability in Cisco IOS on Catalyst Switches and Nexus 9300 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a Layer 2 network storm. More Information: CSCuu69332, CSCux07028. Known Affected Releases: 15.2(3)E. Known Fixed Releases: 12.2(50)SE4 12.2(50)SE5 12.2(50)SQ5 12.2(50)SQ6 12.2(50)SQ7 12.2(52)EY4 12.2(52)SE1 12.2(53)EX 12.2(53)SE 12.2(53)SE1 12.2(53)SE2 12.2(53)SG10 12.2(53)SG11 12.2(53)SG2 12.2(53)SG9 12.2(54)SG1 12.2(55)EX3 12.2(55)SE 12.2(55)SE1 12.2(55)SE10 12.2(55)SE2 12.2(55)SE3 12.2(55)SE4 12.2(55)SE5 12.2(55)SE6 12.2(55)SE7 12.2(55)SE8 12.2(55)SE9 12.2(58)EZ 12.2(58)SE1 12.2(58)SE2 12.2(60)EZ 12.2(60)EZ1 12.2(60)EZ2 12.2(60)EZ3 12.2(60)EZ4 12.2(60)EZ5 12.2(60)EZ6 12.2(60)EZ7 12.2(60)EZ8 15.0(1)EY2 15.0(1)SE 15.0(1)SE2 15.0(1)SE3 15.0(2)EA 15.0(2)EB 15.0(2)EC 15.0(2)ED 15.0(2)EH 15.0(2)EJ 15.0(2)EJ1 15.0(2)EK1 15.0(2)EX 15.0(2)EX1 15.0(2)EX3 15.0(2)EX4 15.0(2)EX5 15.0(2)EY 15.0(2)EY1 15.0(2)EY2 15.0(2)EZ 15.0(2)SE 15.0(2)SE1 15.0(2)SE2 15.0(2)SE3 15.0(2)SE4 15.0(2)SE5 15.0(2)SE6 15.0(2)SE7 15.0(2)SE9 15.0(2)SG10 15.0(2)SG3 15.0(2)SG6 15.0(2)SG7 15.0(2)SG8 15.0(2)SG9 15.0(2a)EX5 15.1(2)SG 15.1(2)SG1 15.1(2)SG2 15.1(2)SG3 15.1(2)SG4 15.1(2)SG5 15.1(2)SG6 15.2(1)E 15.2(1)E1 15.2(1)E2 15.2(1)E3 15.2(1)EY 15.2(2)E 15.2(2)E3 15.2(2b)E.
How severe is CVE-2016-6473?: CVE-2016-6473 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-6473 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (46th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-6473?: CVE-2016-6473 primarily affects Cisco Ios. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-6473?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2016-6473 published?: CVE-2016-6473 was published on 2016-12-14 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (7)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.0\(2\)se8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(2\)e1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(2\)e2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(2a\)e1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(3\)e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(3\)e1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(3a\)e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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