# What is CVE-2016-9079?

> CVE-2016-9079 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) in Firefox from Mozilla, published on 11 June 2018. 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 88%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2016-9079

## 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:** 76 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.5 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:** 88% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 11 June 2018
- **Record last updated:** 21 March 2025
- **Main product:** Firefox from Mozilla
- **Affected products:** 11

## What is CVE-2016-9079? 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.

### The official description

A use-after-free vulnerability in SVG Animation has been discovered. An exploit built on this vulnerability has been discovered in the wild targeting Firefox and Tor Browser users on Windows. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 50.0.2, Firefox ESR < 45.5.1, and Thunderbird < 45.5.1.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-416: Use After Free

### 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

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

## Is CVE-2016-9079 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 88%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 88%, 88%, 88%, 88%, 88%, 88%, 88%.

### Timeline

- 11 June 2018: Published
- 21 March 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2016-9079 scores **76 out of 100 (High)**, 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-2016-9079?

The published record lists 11 products. Versions are as published: "before 50.0.2" means every version up to, but not including, 50.0.2.

- [Firefox](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/mozilla/firefox) by [Mozilla](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/mozilla) (Application): before 50.0.2, before 45.5.1
- [Enterprise Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 5.0, 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Desktop](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 5.0, 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 5.0, 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Server Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
- [Enterprise Linux Workstation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_workstation) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 5.0, 6.0, 7.0
- [Enterprise Linux Server Aus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.3, 7.4
- [Debian Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/debian/debian_linux) by [Debian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/debian) (Operating system): 9.0
- [Thunderbird](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/mozilla/thunderbird) by [Mozilla](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/mozilla) (Application): before 45.5.1
- [Tor](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/torproject/tor) by [Torproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/torproject) (Application): version not specified
- [Windows](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9079?

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

- [bugzilla.mozilla.org](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1321066) (Exploit, Issue tracking, Vendor advisory)
- [mozilla.org](https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2016-92/) (Vendor advisory)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2843.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2850.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94591) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037370) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-15) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-35) (Third-party advisory)
- [debian.org](https://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3730) (Third-party advisory)
- [exploit-db.com](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41151/) (Exploit, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [exploit-db.com](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42327/) (Exploit, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2016-9079?

CVE-2016-9079 is a high-severity flaw in Firefox from Mozilla, published on 11 June 2018. 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.

### How serious is CVE-2016-9079?

It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2016-9079 is 76 out of 100, which is High. 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-2016-9079 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 88%.

### Which versions does CVE-2016-9079 affect?

For Firefox from Mozilla: before 50.0.2, before 45.5.1. The record lists 11 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2016-9079?

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-2016-9079 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.

Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register
Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact