# CVE-2016-7981: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the var_url parameter in SPIP's valider_xml.php, potentially compromising user sessions.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-7981, GHSA-9pfr-grw4-7phc, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-7981

## What is CVE-2016-7981?

CVE-2016-7981 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Spip Spip, published on 18 Jan 2017. 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 valider_xml.php in SPIP 3.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the var_url parameter in a valider_xml action.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7981?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Spip Spip.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7981?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-7981 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-7981 exists.

Public exploit code:

- SPIP <3.1.2 - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2016/CVE-2016-7981.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Spip Spip

- [CVE-2012-4331](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4331/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-5812](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5812/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-8517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-8517/): SPIP Bigup Multipart File Upload OS Command Injection (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-24258](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-24258/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-9736](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9736/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-7981 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-7981 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Spip Spip, published on 18 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-7981 exists.

Affected product: Spip Spip. 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-2016-7981/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7981/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7981
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7981
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7981

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7981/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.