HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-3644
HIGHPOC

CVE-2016-3644

CWE-20Published: June 30, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.4
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The AntiVirus Decomposer engine in Symantec Advanced Threat Protection (ATP); Symantec Data Center Security:Server (SDCS:S) 6.x through 6.6 MP1; Symantec Web Gateway; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) before 12.1 RU6 MP5; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) for Mac; Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) for Linux before 12.1 RU6 MP5; Symantec Protection Engine (SPE) before 7.0.5 HF01, 7.5.x before 7.5.3 HF03, 7.5.4 before HF01, and 7.8.0 before HF01; Symantec Protection for SharePoint Servers (SPSS) 6.0.3 through 6.0.5 before 6.0.5 HF 1.5 and 6.0.6 before HF 1.6; Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange (SMSMSE) before 7.0_3966002 HF1.1 and 7.5.x before 7.5_3966008 VHF1.2; Symantec Mail Security for Domino (SMSDOM) before 8.0.9 HF1.1 and 8.1.x before 8.1.3 HF1.2; CSAPI before 10.0.4 HF01; Symantec Message Gateway (SMG) before 10.6.1-4; Symantec Message Gateway for Service Providers (SMG-SP) 10.5 before patch 254 and 10.6 before patch 253; Norton AntiVirus, Norton Security, Norton Internet Security, and Norton 360 before NGC 22.7; Norton Security for Mac before 13.0.2; Norton Power Eraser (NPE) before 5.1; and Norton Bootable Removal Tool (NBRT) before 2016.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via modified MIME data in a message.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-3644 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

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 8.4.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2016-3644. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

symantec18 product(s)
norton securityprotection engineadvanced threat protectionnorton bootable removal tooldata center security serverprotection for sharepoint serversmessage gateway for service providerscsapiendpoint protectionnorton power erasermail security for dominomail security for microsoft exchange+6
Source: NVD CPE · 23 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

ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91431
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036198
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036199
ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40034/
ADVISORYhttps://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=&suid=20160628_00
ADVISORYhttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91431
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036198
ADVISORYhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036199
ADVISORYhttps://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40034/
ADVISORYhttps://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=&suid=20160628_00

All References (10)

→
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91431Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036198Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036199Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40034/Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=&suid=20160628_00Vendor Advisory
→
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91431Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036198Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036199Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40034/Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry
→
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=&suid=20160628_00Vendor Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-3644
CVSS Score8.4 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-20
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedJun 30, 2016

Related CVEs (CWE-20)

CVE-2003-1425
10.0
CVE-2007-6176
10.0
CVE-2008-6826
10.0
CVE-2008-1331
10.0
CVE-2007-6494
10.0
CVE-2008-6555
10.0

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2016-3644 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.
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