# CVE-2016-3298: Microsoft Internet Explorer Messaging API Information Disclosure

> Remote attackers can determine the existence of arbitrary files on a victim's system via a crafted website in Internet Explorer.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 24 May 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2016
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9vv9-w57h-m8qw

## What is CVE-2016-3298?

CVE-2016-3298 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 14 Oct 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

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and the Internet Messaging API in Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, and Windows 7 SP1 allow remote attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability."

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-3298?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-3298?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-3298 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 14 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2016-3298 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-3298 in the wild since at least 24 May 2022.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer

- [CVE-2014-1776](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1776/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-27085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27085/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0222/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0210](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0210/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0149/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-3298 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-3298 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 14 Oct 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: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-3298 in the wild since at least 24 May 2022.

Affected product: Microsoft Internet Explorer. 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-2016-3298/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3298/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-3298
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3298
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-3298

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3298/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.