Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2016-9563 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 3 Nov 2021

Gociux · SAP NetWeaver · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2016-9563, SAP NetWeaver XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Nov 2021, 1806 days after it was published. It affects SAP NetWeaver. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

exploitedYesCISA KEV · 3 Nov 2021

ransomwareNot knownno confirmed use

EPSStop 5%very likely to be exploited

severity6.5CVSS 3.1 · medium

US federal due3 May 2022BOD 22-01 deadline

What it is

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.

Vendor	SAP (14 exploited CVEs in KEV)
Product	NetWeaver
Vulnerability	SAP NetWeaver XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability
Weakness	CWE-611
Published	23 Nov 2016
Added to KEV	3 Nov 2021
Reported by (CNA)	mitre

What to do

Check whether you run it. Look for NetWeaver in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited SAP CVE at once.
Apply the fix. Apply updates per vendor instructions.
If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 23 Nov 2016.
Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for SAP.

Other exploited CVEs in NetWeaver

CVE-2025-42999: SAP NetWeaver Deserialization Vulnerability (15 May 2025)
CVE-2025-31324: SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload Vulnerability (29 Apr 2025)
CVE-2017-12637: SAP NetWeaver Directory Traversal Vulnerability (19 Mar 2025)
CVE-2021-38163: SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload Vulnerability (9 Jun 2022)
CVE-2016-2386: SAP NetWeaver SQL Injection Vulnerability (9 Jun 2022)
CVE-2016-2388: SAP NetWeaver Information Disclosure Vulnerability (9 Jun 2022)

References

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9563

Questions

Is CVE-2016-9563 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2016-9563 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 3 Nov 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Is CVE-2016-9563 used in ransomware attacks?

CISA does not list known ransomware use for it. That can change, and exploitation alone is reason to fix it first.

How do I fix CVE-2016-9563?

Apply updates per vendor instructions. Check SAP's advisory for the fixed versions, and if you can't patch quickly, restrict access to the affected NetWeaver and watch it for signs of compromise.

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in November 2021 · SAP scorecard · act-now radar.

Running SAP in a regulated environment?

We check exposure across your estate, patch or mitigate with your team, and set up detection for what attackers do after exploiting it.

Get in touch →