CVE-2016-3298

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in Windows Vista SP2,...

6.5 MediumIn KEV

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allow remote attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability."

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Exploit likelihood

33.3%Up 11.5 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 6.5

Record: CVE-2016-3298
CVSS 3.1: 6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVSS 2.0: 2.6 LowAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List 6.5

Record: CVE-2016-3298
CVSS 3.1: 6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2016-4330 6.5

Record: EUVD-2016-4330
CVSS 3.1: 6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9vv9-w57h-m8qw 5.3

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in Windows Vista SP2,...

Record: GHSA-9vv9-w57h-m8qw
CVSS 3.0: 5.3 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness: CWE-200
Updated: 2026-11-02

CISA KEV No score

Microsoft Internet Explorer Messaging API Information Disclosure Vulnerability

An information disclosure vulnerability exists when the Microsoft Internet Messaging API improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could allow the attacker to test for the presence of files on disk.

Record: CVE-2016-3298
Weakness: CWE-200
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	exploitation
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, NVD

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

In short

CVE-2016-3298 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published October 14, 2016. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since May 24, 2022. EUVD reports exploitation since May 24, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 33.3%, the 98th percentile. No source names a fixed version.