# CVE-2016-3172: SQL injection in n/a

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands in Cacti via the parent_id parameter, potentially compromising database integrity and confidentiality.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Apr 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2016-3172, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-3172, GHSA-3pph-g5w6-c57w, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-3172

## What is CVE-2016-3172?

CVE-2016-3172 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Cacti Cacti, published on 12 Apr 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SQL injection vulnerability in tree.php in Cacti 0.8.8g and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the parent_id parameter in an item_edit action.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-3172?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cacti Cacti.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-3172?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-3172 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-3172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cacti Cacti

- [CVE-2022-46169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46169/): Cacti Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-39893](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-39893/): Cacti: Pre-authentication SQL injection via rfilter RLIKE clause in graph_view.php (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-39938](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-39938/): Cacti: Unauthenticated RCE on Graph Image (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-39955](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-39955/): Cacti has Pre-Authentication SQL Injection via unanchored FILTER_VALIDATE_REGEXP in graph_view.php (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-39361](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39361/): Unauthenticated SQL Injection in graph_view.php in Cacti (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-3172 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-3172 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Cacti Cacti, published on 12 Apr 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-3172 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cacti Cacti. 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-2016-3172/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3172/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-3172
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3172
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-3172

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3172/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.