HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-2539
HIGHPOC

CVE-2016-2539

CWE-352Published: February 7, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in install_modules.php in ATutor before 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of users for requests that upload arbitrary files and execute arbitrary PHP code via vectors involving a crafted zip file.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-2539 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.8.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2016-2539. 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 ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionRequired
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

atutor1 product(s)
atutor
Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://github.com/atutor/ATutor/commit/bfc6c80c6c217c5515172f3cc949e13dfa1a92ac
PATCHhttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136109/ATutor-LMS-2.2.1-CSRF-Remote-Code-Execution.html
PATCHhttps://github.com/atutor/ATutor/commit/bfc6c80c6c217c5515172f3cc949e13dfa1a92ac
PATCHhttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136109/ATutor-LMS-2.2.1-CSRF-Remote-Code-Execution.html

All References (6)

→
https://github.com/atutor/ATutor/commit/bfc6c80c6c217c5515172f3cc949e13dfa1a92acPatch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136109/ATutor-LMS-2.2.1-CSRF-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit · Patch · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39524/
→
https://github.com/atutor/ATutor/commit/bfc6c80c6c217c5515172f3cc949e13dfa1a92acPatch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/136109/ATutor-LMS-2.2.1-CSRF-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlExploit · Patch · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39524/

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-2539
CVSS Score8.8 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-352
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 7, 2017

Related CVEs (CWE-352)

CVE-2017-5145
10.0
CVE-2025-32642
10.0
CVE-2025-23922
10.0
CVE-2023-52200
9.8
CVE-2024-47359
9.8
CVE-2025-23797
9.8

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2016-2539 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. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.
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