# CVE-2016-0185: Microsoft Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Windows systems by tricking users into opening a crafted Media Center link file.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 May 2016
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-76r4-g8fm-62pc

## What is CVE-2016-0185?

CVE-2016-0185 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 11 May 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Media Center in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Media Center link (aka .mcl) file, aka "Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-0185?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8.1, Microsoft Windows Vista.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-0185?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-0185 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2016-0185 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-0185 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows Media Center - '.MCL' File Processing Remote Code Execution (MS16-059) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 7

- [CVE-2015-1635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1635/): Microsoft HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2360/): Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6324/): Microsoft Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6332/): Microsoft Windows Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) Automation Array Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-4148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4148/): Microsoft Windows Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-0185 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-0185 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 7, published on 11 May 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-0185 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 7. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0185/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0185/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-0185
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0185
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-0185

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0185/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.