What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-3971?

CVE-2016-3971 has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 4.8 (Medium). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.2%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2016-3971?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2016-3971. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 0.2%.

Dotcms CVE-2016-3971

MEDIUM

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79)

2016-04-18 cve@mitre.org

XSS Dotcms

4.8

CVSS 3.0 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-79 OWASP Top 10:2025 A05:2025 - Injection ASVS 5.0 V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding, context-aware escaping MITRE ATT&CK 2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Impact	CVSS score of 4.8 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.19%.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	A remote attacker could inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).

No patch listed yet 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in lucene_search.jsp in dotCMS before 3.5.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter to c/portal/layout. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Sanitize all user input, use Content-Security-Policy headers, encode output contextually (HTML, JS, URL). Use frameworks with built-in XSS protection.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79), which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in lucene_search.jsp in dotCMS before 3.5.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter to c/portal/layout. Affected products include: Dotcms. Version information: before 3.5.1.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 4.8 MEDIUM

AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

High

User Interaction

Required

Scope

Changed

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

None

DescriptionCVE.org

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in lucene_search.jsp in dotCMS before 3.5.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter to c/portal/layout.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.2%

Top 59% exploitable

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity MEDIUM

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 0.2%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

Poc

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Human Impact· derived

Medium

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +24

PoC: +20

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting MEDIUM

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:dotcms:dotcms:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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References

Advisories & patches

ADVISORY http://dotcms.com/security/SI-33

Search Externally

GitHub PoC

Exploit-DB PacketStorm Snyk Rapid7 Nuclei Templates Trickest PoC

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