# CVE-2016-1596: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote authenticated users can inject arbitrary web script or HTML into various fields in Micro Focus Novell Service Desk.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Apr 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qmg9-6p3v-cmj4

## What is CVE-2016-1596?

CVE-2016-1596 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Apr 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Micro Focus Novell Service Desk before 7.2 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a certain (1) user name, (2) tf_aClientFirstName, (3) tf_aClientLastName, (4) ta_selectedTopicContent, (5) tf_orgUnitName, (6) tf_aManufacturerFullName, (7) tf_aManufacturerName, (8) tf_aManufacturerAddress, or (9) tf_aManufacturerCity parameter.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-1596?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Novell Service Desk.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-1596?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-1596 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-1596 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-1596 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Novell ServiceDesk 6.5/7.0.3/7.1.0 - Multiple Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2016-1593](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1593/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2016-1594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1594/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2016-1595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1595/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-1596 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-1596 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Apr 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-1596 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2016-1596/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1596/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-1596
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1596
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-1596

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-1596/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.