# CVE-2016-15003: FileZilla Client Installer uninstall.exe unquoted search path

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges by exploiting an unquoted search path in the FileZilla Client installer.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Jul 2022
- **Updated:** 15 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7j5p-c5cp-hrh6

## What is CVE-2016-15003?

CVE-2016-15003 is a medium-severity vulnerability in FileZilla Client, published on 18 Jul 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been found in FileZilla Client 3.17.0.0 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file C:\Program Files\FileZilla FTP Client\uninstall.exe of the component Installer. The manipulation leads to unquoted search path. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.

Weakness: CWE-428 (Unquoted Search Path or Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-15003?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Filezilla-Project Filezilla Client.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-15003?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-15003 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-15003 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-15003 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in FileZilla Client

- [CVE-2023-53959](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-53959/): FileZilla Client 3.63.1 DLL Hijacking via Missing TextShaping.dll (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2019-25683](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25683/): FileZilla 3.40.0 Denial of Service via Local Search (medium 6.9)
- [CVE-2022-29620](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29620/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-15003 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-15003 is a medium-severity vulnerability in FileZilla Client, published on 18 Jul 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-15003 exists.

Affected product: FileZilla Client. 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-2016-15003/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-15003/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-15003
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-15003
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-15003

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-15003/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.