CVE-2016-5840
CWE-20Published: June 30, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
hotfix_upload.cgi in Trend Micro Deep Discovery Inspector (DDI) 3.7, 3.8 SP1 (3.81), and 3.8 SP2 (3.82) allows remote administrators to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in the filename parameter of the Content-Disposition header.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2016-5840 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires high privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
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 7.2.
A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2016-5840. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (10)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-20)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2016-5840 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts