Read the docs
TI-2016-02677 Aliases CVE-2016-3191GHSA-68wg-f3j9-hgmv

The compile_branch function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE 8.x before 8.39 and pcre2_compile.c…

Priority MEDIUM 53CWE-119Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 16 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

The compile_branch function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE 8.x before 8.39 and pcre2_compile.c in PCRE2 before 10.22 mishandles patterns containing an (*ACCEPT) substring in conjunction with nested parentheses, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow) via a crafted regular expression, as demonstrated by a JavaScript RegExp object encountered by Konqueror, aka ZDI-CAN-3542.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.0843 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 16 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 19

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.00VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.01VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.02VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.10VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.11VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.12VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.13VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.20VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.21VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.30VulnerablePCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.00 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.01 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.02 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.10 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.11 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.12 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.13 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.20 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.21 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.30 Vulnerable ·PCRE
Show 9 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.31VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.32VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.33VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.34VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.35VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.36VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.37VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.38VulnerablePCRE
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 10.21VulnerablePCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.31 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.32 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.33 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.34 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.35 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.36 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.37 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.38 Vulnerable ·PCRE
  • cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 10.21 Vulnerable ·PCRE

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2016:1132 Released 2016-05-26 · Red Hat rating Important
    rh-mariadb100-mariadb security update
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el6 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el7 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.6) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el6 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.7) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el6 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.1) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el7 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.2) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el7 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el6, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el6 +6
    • Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) rh-mariadb100-mariadb-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-bench-1:10.0.25-4.el7, rh-mariadb100-mariadb-common-1:10.0.25-4.el7 +6
  • RHSA-2016:1025 Released 2016-05-11 · Red Hat rating Important
    pcre security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) pcre-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) pcre-devel-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-static-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-tools-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) pcre-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) pcre-devel-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-static-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-tools-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) pcre-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-8.32-15.el7_2.1.ppc, pcre-devel-8.32-15.el7_2.1 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) pcre-static-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-static-8.32-15.el7_2.1.ppc, pcre-tools-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) pcre-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-devel-8.32-15.el7_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) pcre-static-8.32-15.el7_2.1, pcre-tools-8.32-15.el7_2.1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 3AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Software CollectionsAffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1025
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.6)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 6.7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.1)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.2)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2016:1132
Not affected: 7 products
  • Red Hat Directory Server 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 1
  • Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Web Server 2
  • Red Hat Software Collections

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-3191
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-68wg-f3j9-hgmv
  3. 2026-11-03 EPSS moved to the 95th–99th percentile

References

Exploit 1

Advisory 2

Other 9

  • TI-2017-11950 In PCRE 8.41, after compiling, a pcretest load test PoC produces a crash overflow in the… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
  • TI-2015-02839 Heap-based buffer overflow in PCRE 8.34 through 8.37 and PCRE2 10.10 allows remote… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2016-01176 The pcre_compile2 function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE 8.38 mishandles the… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2015-06911 The pcre_compile function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE before 8.38 mishandles certain [… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2015-04255 Heap-based buffer overflow in the find_fixedlength function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.1
  • TI-2019-15056 libpcre in PCRE before 8.43 allows a subject buffer over-read in JIT when UTF is… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 32 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences