# CVE-2016-10972: Missing authorization in n/a

> Attackers can modify theme options without proper authorization due to missing access controls in the AJAX handler.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Sep 2019
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jx5r-g6v9-338q

## What is CVE-2016-10972?

CVE-2016-10972 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The newspaper theme before 6.7.2 for WordPress has a lack of options access control via td_ajax_update_panel.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-10972?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Tagdiv Newspaper.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-10972?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-10972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-10972 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-10972 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Newspaper Theme 6.4–6.7.1 - Privilege Escalation (nuclei): http/cves/2016/CVE-2016-10972.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2017-18634](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18634/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-2167](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2167/): Newspaper < 12 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2022-2627](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2627/): Newspaper < 12 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2021-3135](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3135/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2024-3815](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3815/): Newspaper <= 12.6.5 - Authenticated (Author+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Attachment Meta (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-10972 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-10972 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 16 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-10972 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2016-10972/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10972/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-10972
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-10972
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-10972

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-10972/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.