CVE-2016-9563
CVE-2016-9563 is a security flaw in SAP NetWeaver, SAP’s platform for running business applications. Attackers can read files on SAP NetWeaver that should be out of reach. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 3 Nov 2021.[1]
SAP NetWeaver is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff.
Description
CISA calls it an XML external entity (XXE) in SAP NetWeaver. In its words: “SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java Platforms contains an unspecified vulnerability in BC-BMT-BPM-DSK which allows remote, authenticated users to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks.”[1]
The underlying weakness is XML external entity (CWE-611), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it. CISA names the product as SAP NetWeaver.
Most families won’t have SAP NetWeaver; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 3 Nov 2021, 1,806 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 May 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 24%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[3]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.SAP NetWeaver is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 3 May 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 6.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 24%.[3] |
See also
Other SAP NetWeaver flaws
- CVE-2025-42999: deserialization ·
- CVE-2025-31324: unrestricted file upload ·
- CVE-2017-12637: directory traversal ·
- CVE-2021-38163: unrestricted file upload ·
- CVE-2016-2388: information disclosure ·
- CVE-2016-2386: SQL injection ·
Other SAP flaws
- CVE-2019-0344, SAP Commerce Cloud: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2022-22536, SAP products: HTTP request smuggling ·
- CVE-2020-6207, SAP Solution Manager: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2018-2380, SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM): path traversal ·
Other XML external entity flaws
- CVE-2025-58360, OSGeo GeoServer: improper restriction of XML external entity reference ·
- CVE-2025-2776, SysAid On-Prem: on-prem improper restriction of XML external entity reference ·
- CVE-2025-2775, SysAid On-Prem: on-prem improper restriction of XML external entity reference ·
- CVE-2023-45727, North Grid Proself: improper restriction of XML external entity (XXE) reference ·
- CVE-2024-34102, Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source: improper restriction of XML external entity reference (XXE) ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-42258, BQE BillQuick Web Suite: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2021-42013, Apache HTTP Server: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-41773, Apache HTTP Server: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-40539, Zoho ManageEngine: aDSelfService plus authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-40444, Microsoft MSHTML: remote code execution ·
Every SAP flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in November 2021
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “SAP NetWeaver XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 3 Nov 2021.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2016-9563 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 23 Nov 2016.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.242, percentile 97.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2016-9563”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.