# CVE-2016-7251: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML into the MDS API of Microsoft SQL Server 2016.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **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:** 10 Nov 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-664m-vm73-69h5

## What is CVE-2016-7251?

CVE-2016-7251 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Microsoft Sql Server, published on 10 Nov 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

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the MDS API in Microsoft SQL Server 2016 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified parameter, aka "MDS API XSS Vulnerability."

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7251?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Sql Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7251?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-7251 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-7251 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-7251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Sql Server

- [CVE-2020-0618](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-0618/): Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-1068](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1068/): Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-8273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-8273/): Memory corruption in Microsoft SQL Server (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2008-5416](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5416/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2023-21705](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21705/): Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-7251 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-7251 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Microsoft Sql Server, published on 10 Nov 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-2016-7251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Sql 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-2016-7251/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7251/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7251
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7251
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7251

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7251/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.