CVE-2016-1546

The Apache HTTP Server 2.4.17 and 2.4.18, when mod_http2 is enabled, does not limit the number of simultaneous stream workers for a single HTTP/2 connection, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stream-processing outage) via modified flow-control windows.

Published: 2016-07-06 Last update: 2026-05-06 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2016-1546 is rated Moderate Risk (57.3/100): CVSS Medium severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 41.50%, 97th percentile). Core evidence: EPSS ranks this CVE among the most likely to be exploited in the near term. Mandatory action: High exploitation likelihood—assess exposure and prioritize remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2016-1546

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-03-16 41.88% 41.50% -0.38%
2 2026-03-08 43.33% 41.88% -1.45%
3 2026-03-04 43.33%

Full EPSS history (51 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2016-1546

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
5.9 3.0 MEDIUM
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
2.2 3.6 [email protected]
4.3 2.0 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M)
Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:N)
No confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:N)
No integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P)
Partial availability impact.
8.6 2.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2016-1546

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-1546

vendor priority summary link
debian not yet assigned CVE-2016-1546 not yet assigned priority: Debian including 1 source packages (apache2), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 5. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1546
gentoo normal CVE-2016-1546: 1 GLSA(s) (201610-02), 1 atom(s) (www-servers/apache); latest impact normal. https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2016-1546
redhat medium https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-1546
ubuntu medium CVE-2016-1546 medium priority: Ubuntu including 1 source packages (apache2), 5 status rows across 5 suites (precise, trusty, upstream, wily, xenial): not-affected 4, released 1. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1546

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-1546

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
apache http_server 2.4.17 cpe:2.3:a:apache:http_server:2.4.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
apache http_server 2.4.18 cpe:2.3:a:apache:http_server:2.4.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2016-1546

URL Tags
http://httpd.apache.org/security/vulnerabilities_24.html Patch Vendor Advisory
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1733727
http://www.apache.org/dist/httpd/CHANGES_2.4
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinoct2016-3090566.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92331
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1161
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/56c2e7cc9deb1c12a843d0dc251ea7fd3e7e80293cde02fcd65286ba%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/84a3714f0878781f6ed84473d1a503d2cc382277e100450209231830%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r04e89e873d54116a0635ef2f7061c15acc5ed27ef7500997beb65d6f%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r76142b8c5119df2178be7c2dba88fde552eedeec37ea993dfce68d1d%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9f93cf6dde308d42a9c807784e8102600d0397f5f834890708bf6920%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rb14daf9cc4e28d18cdc15d6a6ca74e565672fabf7ad89541071d008b%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rc998b18880df98bafaade071346690c2bc1444adaa1a1ea464b93f0a%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rcc44594d4d6579b90deccd4536b5d31f099ef563df39b094be286b9e%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rd18c3c43602e66f9cdcf09f1de233804975b9572b0456cc582390b6f%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/re1e3a24664d35bcd0a0e793e0b5fc6ca6c107f99a1b2c545c5d4b467%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/re3d27b6250aa8548b8845d314bb8a350b3df326cacbbfdfe4d455234%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf6449464fd8b7437704c55f88361b66f12d5b5f90bcce66af4be4ba9%40%3Ccvs.httpd.apache.org%3E
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-02
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20180601-0001/
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