# CVE-2016-2076: Auth bypass in n/a

> Remote attackers can hijack sessions via a crafted website due to improper session handling in VMware vCenter Server and related products.

- **Severity:** High 7.6 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Apr 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8wg8-9xg9-58m4

## What is CVE-2016-2076?

CVE-2016-2076 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Vmware Vcenter Server, published on 15 Apr 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Client Integration Plugin (CIP) in VMware vCenter Server 5.5 U3a, U3b, and U3c and 6.0 before U2; vCloud Director 5.5.5; and vRealize Automation Identity Appliance 6.2.4 before 6.2.4.1 mishandles session content, which allows remote attackers to hijack sessions via a crafted web site.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-2076?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Vmware Vcenter Server, Vmware Vcloud Automation Identity Appliance, Vmware Vcloud Director.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-2076?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-2076 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-2076 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2076 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Vcenter Server

- [CVE-2026-59310](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-59310/): Broadcom VMware vCenter Path Traversal (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-34048](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34048/): VMware vCenter Server Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-3952](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3952/): VMware vCenter Server Information Disclosure (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22017](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22017/): VMware vCenter Server Improper Access Control (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2342](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2342/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-2076 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-2076 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Vmware Vcenter Server, published on 15 Apr 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-2076 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Vmware Vcenter Server. 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-2016-2076/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2076/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-2076
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2076
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-2076

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2076/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.