Is CVE-2016-2786 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2016-2786 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2016-2786 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2016-2786 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-2786?

CVE-2016-2786 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-2786

CRITICAL

CVE-2016-2786

CWE-20Published: June 10, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The pxp-agent component in Puppet Enterprise 2015.3.x before 2015.3.3 and Puppet Agent 1.3.x before 1.3.6 does not properly validate server certificates, which might allow remote attackers to spoof brokers and execute arbitrary commands via a crafted certificate.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-2786 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

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 9.8.