HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2015-5161
MEDIUMPOC

CVE-2015-5161

NVD-CWE-OtherPublished: August 25, 2015· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

6.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The Zend_Xml_Security::scan in ZendXml before 1.0.1 and Zend Framework before 1.12.14, 2.x before 2.4.6, and 2.5.x before 2.5.2, when running under PHP-FPM in a threaded environment, allows remote attackers to bypass security checks and conduct XML external entity (XXE) and XML entity expansion (XEE) attacks via multibyte encoded characters.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2015-5161 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2015-5161. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityM
Privileges Req.
User Interaction
Scope
Impact
ConfidentialityP
IntegrityP
AvailabilityP
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Affected Vendors & Products

zend1 product(s)
zend framework
Source: NVD CPE · 119 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

All References (20)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2015-5161
CVSS Score6.8 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedAug 25, 2015

Related CVEs (NVD-CWE-Other)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2015-5161 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.