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CVE-2016-5851

29
FAUCET Score

CVE-2016-5851 describes an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in python-docx versions prior to 0.8.6, allowing attackers to craft malicious documents to exploit the flaw. This vulnerability carries a high CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a critical risk due to its network-based attack vector, low attack complexity, and high potential for confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. Despite its severity, there is no evidence of active exploitation, public exploit code (Metasploit, Nuclei, ExploitDB), or significant community discussion or media coverage surrounding this CVE.

Impacted Technologies

VendorProductVersion(s)CPE
<= 0.8.5CPE matchmatch criteria
cpe:2.3:a:python-openxml_project:python-docx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

CVSS Data

CVSS version used by this source: 3.1

8.8HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
Exploitability Score
2.8
Impact Score
5.9
CvssVersion
3.1

Exploit Intelligence

EPSS Score
2.35%
Probability of exploitation in next 30 days
EPSS Percentile
81.9%
Percentile rank of EPSS score among Peer Group
As of 2026-07-25
Model: v2026.06.15
This CVE's current EPSS score of 0.0235 is in the 81st percentile among its peer group of 14,848 CVEs.

Social Chatter

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.0 Twitter, 0.1 Reddit, 0.2 Bluesky, 0.1 Mastodon, and 0.2 GitHub mentions.

Media Mentions

No media coverage found for this CVE.

The average CVE in this peer group has 0.3 InfoSec Media, 0.0 Vendor Blog, and 0.1 Security Researcher mentions.

Remediation

Patch Available

Vendor Patches (2)

github_advisorypatch availablevia nvd_reference
View patch
pippatch availablevia ghsa
Product: python-docxFixed in: 0.8.6

Vendor Advisories (1)

pipGHSA-34wj-p5jm-2p96high

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in python-docx

May 13, 2022

References

github.com / python-openxml/python-docx/blob/v0.8.6/HISTORY.rst
PatchRelease NotesVendor Advisory
github.com / python-openxml/python-docx/commit/61b40b161b64173ab8e362aec1fd197948431beb
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6FFMOH7ZPOPQWNJGUZOS5LXX4MGNRXXT
lists.fedoraproject.org / archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XU2WSYRNB7CLBBFCGSX34XHACTA2SWDZ
openwall.com / lists/oss-security/2016/06/28/7
Mailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
openwall.com / lists/oss-security/2016/06/28/8
Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
securityfocus.com / bid/91485
Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry