# What is CVE-2016-8735?

> CVE-2016-8735 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) in Tomcat from Apache, published on 6 April 2017. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 90%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2016-8735

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 90 out of 100 (Critical); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 9.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 90% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 6 April 2017
- **Record last updated:** 22 October 2025
- **Main product:** Tomcat from Apache
- **Affected products:** 19

## What is CVE-2016-8735? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

Remote code execution is possible with Apache Tomcat before 6.0.48, 7.x before 7.0.73, 8.x before 8.0.39, 8.5.x before 8.5.7, and 9.x before 9.0.0.M12 if JmxRemoteLifecycleListener is used and an attacker can reach JMX ports. The issue exists because this listener wasn't updated for consistency with the CVE-2016-3427 Oracle patch that affected credential types.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2016-8735 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 90%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 90%, 90%, 90%, 90%, 90%, 90%, 90%.

### Timeline

- 6 April 2017: Published
- 22 October 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2016-8735 scores **90 out of 100 (Critical)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2016-8735?

The published record lists 19 products. Versions are as published: "before 6.0.48" means every version up to, but not including, 6.0.48.

- [Tomcat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apache/tomcat) by [Apache](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apache) (Application): before 6.0.48, 7.0.0 to before 7.0.73, 8.0 to before 8.0.39, 8.5.0 to before 8.5.7, 9.0.0, 9.0.0-milestone1, 9.0.0-milestone2, 9.0.0-milestone3, 9.0.0-milestone4, 9.0.0-milestone5, 9.0.0-milestone6, 9.0.0-milestone7, 9.0.0-milestone8, 9.0.0-milestone9, 9.0.0-milestone10, 9.0.0-milestone11
- [Transportation Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/transportation_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 6.3.0, 6.3.1, 6.3.2, 6.3.3, 6.3.4, 6.3.5, 6.3.6, 6.3.7
- [Micros Retail Xbri Loss Prevention](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/micros_retail_xbri_loss_prevention) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 10.0.1, 10.5.0, 10.6.0, 10.7.7, 10.8.0, 10.8.1
- [Agile Engineering Data Management](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/agile_engineering_data_management) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 6.1.3, 6.2.0, 6.2.1.0
- [Communications Interactive Session Recorder](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_interactive_session_recorder) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 6.0, 6.1, 6.2
- [Mysql Enterprise Monitor](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/mysql_enterprise_monitor) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): up to 3.2.8.2223, 3.3.0 to 3.3.4.3247, 3.4.0 to 3.4.2.4181
- [Agile Plm](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/agile_plm) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 9.3.5, 9.3.6
- [Communications Application Session Controller](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_application_session_controller) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 3.7.1, 3.8.0
- [Hospitality Guest Access](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/hospitality_guest_access) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 4.2.0, 4.2.1
- [Micros Relate CRM Software](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/micros_relate_crm_software) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 10.8, 11.4
- [7-Mode Transition Tool](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/7-mode_transition_tool) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Communications Instant Messaging Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/communications_instant_messaging_server) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 10.0.1
- [Debian Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/debian/debian_linux) by [Debian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/debian) (Operating system): 8.0
- [Jboss Enterprise Web Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/jboss_enterprise_web_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 3.0.0
- [Oncommand Insight](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_insight) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Oncommand Shift](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/oncommand_shift) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Retail Convenience and Fuel Pos Software](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/retail_convenience_and_fuel_pos_software) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 2.1.132
- [Snap Creator Framework](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/netapp/snap_creator_framework) by [Netapp](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/netapp) (Application): version not specified
- [Ubuntu Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/canonical/ubuntu_linux) by [Canonical](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/canonical) (Operating system): 16.04

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8735?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [svn.apache.org](http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1767644) (Broken link, Patch)
- [svn.apache.org](http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1767656) (Broken link, Patch)
- [svn.apache.org](http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1767676) (Broken link, Patch)
- [svn.apache.org](http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1767684) (Broken link, Patch)
- [oracle.com](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2018-4258247.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/343558d982879bf88ec20dbf707f8c11255f8e219e81d45c4f8d0551%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/37220405a377c0182d2afdbc36461c4783b2930fbeae3a17f1333113%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/388a323769f1dff84c9ec905455aa73fbcb20338e3c7eb131457f708%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/39ae1f0bd5867c15755a6f959b271ade1aea04ccdc3b2e639dcd903b%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/3d19773b4cf0377db62d1e9328bf9160bf1819f04f988315086931d7%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/6af47120905aa7d8fe12f42e8ff2284fb338ba141d3b77b8c7cb61b3%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/845312a10aabbe2c499fca94003881d2c79fc993d85f34c1f5c77424%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/88855876c33f2f9c532ffb75bfee570ccf0b17ffa77493745af9a17a%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b5e3f51d28cd5d9b1809f56594f2cf63dcd6a90429e16ea9f83bbedc%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b84ad1258a89de5c9c853c7f2d3ad77e5b8b2930be9e132d5cef6b95%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b8a1bf18155b552dcf9a928ba808cbadad84c236d85eab3033662cfb%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r03c597a64de790ba42c167efacfa23300c3d6c9fe589ab87fe02859c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r587e50b86c1a96ee301f751d50294072d142fd6dc08a8987ae9f3a9b%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [lists.apache.org](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9136ff5b13e4f1941360b5a309efee2c114a14855578c3a2cbe5d19c%40%3Cdev.tomcat.apache.org%3E) (Mailing list, Patch)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [oracle.com](https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2019-5072835.html) (Patch, Third-party advisory)
- [tomcat.apache.org](http://tomcat.apache.org/security-6.html) (Release notes, Vendor advisory)
- [tomcat.apache.org](http://tomcat.apache.org/security-7.html) (Release notes, Vendor advisory)
- [tomcat.apache.org](http://tomcat.apache.org/security-8.html) (Release notes, Vendor advisory)
- [tomcat.apache.org](http://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html) (Release notes, Vendor advisory)
- [seclists.org](http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2016/q4/502) (Mailing list, Mitigation, Third-party advisory)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0457.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [debian.org](http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3738) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94463) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037331) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0455) (Third-party advisory)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0456) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180607-0001/) (Third-party advisory)
- [usn.ubuntu.com](https://usn.ubuntu.com/4557-1/) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2016-8735?

CVE-2016-8735 is a critical-severity flaw in Tomcat from Apache, published on 6 April 2017. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2016-8735?

It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2016-8735 is 90 out of 100, which is Critical. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2016-8735 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 90%.

### Which versions does CVE-2016-8735 affect?

For Tomcat from Apache: before 6.0.48, 7.0.0 to before 7.0.73, 8.0 to before 8.0.39, 8.5.0 to before 8.5.7, 9.0.0, 9.0.0-milestone1 and 10 more. The record lists 19 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2016-8735?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2016-8735 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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