Hazard

Is CVE-2016-8735 being exploited?

Weaponised and widely attempted

Reliable public exploit code exists, or mass exploitation attempts are probable. Patch inside days, not weeks.

Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Apache · Tomcat

CVSS 9.8 EPSS 90% no public exploit indexed Fix deadline passed 2 June 2023

What it is

Apache Tomcat contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows for remote code execution if JmxRemoteLifecycleListener is used and an attacker can reach Java Management Extension (JMX) ports. This CVE exists because this listener wasn't updated for consistency with the Oracle patched issues for CVE-2016-3427 which affected credential types.

Why we say that

  • EPSS puts exploitation in the next 30 days at 90%
  • CISA's federal remediation deadline (2023-06-02) has passed
  • CVSS 9.8 critical
  • Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue

Every line above comes from a named public source. Where the evidence is thin, we say so rather than inventing confidence — see methodology.

What to do

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What it costs when this goes wrong

This is where UK enforcement meets the vulnerability record. Where an unfixed vulnerability leads to a breach, the ICO treats it as a security failure under UK GDPR. Recent cases:

All UK cases caused by unpatched software →