CVE-2016-2521

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the WiresharkApplication class in ui/qt...

7.8 HighFix available

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the WiresharkApplication class in ui/qt/wireshark_application.cpp in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.10 and 2.0.x before 2.0.2 on Windows allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse riched20.dll.dll file in the current working directory, related to use of QLibrary.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

0.40%Down 0.6 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

Record: CVE-2016-2521
CVSS 3.0: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness: CWE-264
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Record: CVE-2016-2521
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2016-3599 No score

Record: EUVD-2016-3599
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c44j-w78v-5jr4 7.8

Untrusted search path vulnerability in the WiresharkApplication class in ui/qt...

Record: GHSA-c44j-w78v-5jr4
CVSS 3.0: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 7.8

Record: CVE-2016-2521
CVSS 3.0: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-2521 7.8

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2016-2521
CVSS 3.0: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

wireshark

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`wireshark` Ubuntu:14.04:LTS	before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1, plus listed versions 1.10.2-11.10.3-11.10.5-1ubuntu11.10.5-21.10.6-11.12.1+g01b65bf-4+deb8u11ubuntu0.14.04.1	2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1
`wireshark` Ubuntu:16.04:LTS	before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu16.04.1, plus listed versions 1.12.7+g7fc8978-11.12.8+g5b6e543-22.0.1+g59ea380-3build12.0.2+ga16e22e-12.2.6+g32dac6a-2ubuntu0.16.04	2.6.3-1~ubuntu16.04.1
`wireshark` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu18.04.1, plus listed versions 2.4.2-12.4.3-12.4.4-12.4.5-1	2.6.3-1~ubuntu18.04.1

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2016-2521 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Wireshark, published February 28, 2016. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.40%, the 34th percentile. Fixed in wireshark 2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1.

References

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