CVE-2016-3110: Mod cluster parent Denial of Service Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-68qq-3phh-53j7
CVSS 7.5
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-3110 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) denial of service vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Mod cluster parent libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves mod_cluster denial of service vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.3.3.Final.

CVE-2016-3110 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-3110
GHSA Identifier GHSA-68qq-3phh-53j7
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Mod cluster parent
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-3110

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Mod cluster parent dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.jboss.mod_cluster:mod_cluster-parent fixed: 1.3.3.Final
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.jboss.mod_cluster</groupId>
    <artifactId>mod_cluster-parent</artifactId>
    <version>1.3.3.Final</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jboss.mod_cluster

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-3110, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jboss.mod_cluster

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mod cluster parent in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.3.3.Final), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jboss.mod_cluster command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Mod cluster parent, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

mod_cluster, as used in Red Hat JBoss Web Server 2.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Apache http server crash) via an MCMP message containing a series of = (equals) characters after a legitimate element.

CVE-2016-3110 Affected Mod cluster parent Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.3.3.Final
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.jboss.mod_cluster:mod_cluster-parent
Maven
< 1.3.3.Final
1.3.3.Final

References

NVD — CVE-2016-3110 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3110
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1326320
Mod cluster parent Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/modcluster/mod_cluster
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6JMA2YLPK6SEUVF5Q3QEANHYEPRZA2RI
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CX5QNNIVAUB2VVDV6TR3YMFTL6VRKOBO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HE5YZTBZRXCMQFT5LDLZG2HAYBKMYQLL
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6JMA2YLPK6SEUVF5Q3QEANHYEPRZA2RI
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CX5QNNIVAUB2VVDV6TR3YMFTL6VRKOBO
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HE5YZTBZRXCMQFT5LDLZG2HAYBKMYQLL
Mod cluster parent Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227231527/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92584
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-16... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1648.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-16... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1649.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-16... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1650.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-20... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2054.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-20... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2055.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-20... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2056.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-3110?
CVE-2016-3110 is a security vulnerability in Mod cluster parent involving mod_cluster Denial of Service vulnerability under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Mod cluster parent versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.3.3.Final across affected packages: org.jboss.mod_cluster:mod_cluster-parent.
What version fixes CVE-2016-3110?
Upgrading to 1.3.3.Final (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mod_cluster-parent affected?
Yes, org.jboss.mod_cluster:mod_cluster-parent is affected in releases prior to 1.3.3.Final. Upgrade your dependency to 1.3.3.Final or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-3110?
CVE-2016-3110 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-3110?
CVE-2016-3110 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-3110?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.jboss.mod_cluster'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-68qq-3phh-53j7",
  "modified" : "2025-04-14T21:46:54Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T01:04:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-3110" ],
  "summary" : "mod_cluster Denial of Service vulnerability",
  "details" : "mod_cluster, as used in Red Hat JBoss Web Server 2.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Apache http server crash) via an MCMP message containing a series of = (equals) characters after a legitimate element.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.jboss.mod_cluster:mod_cluster-parent"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.3.3.Final"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3110"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1326320"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/modcluster/mod_cluster"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6JMA2YLPK6SEUVF5Q3QEANHYEPRZA2RI"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CX5QNNIVAUB2VVDV6TR3YMFTL6VRKOBO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HE5YZTBZRXCMQFT5LDLZG2HAYBKMYQLL"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6JMA2YLPK6SEUVF5Q3QEANHYEPRZA2RI"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CX5QNNIVAUB2VVDV6TR3YMFTL6VRKOBO"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HE5YZTBZRXCMQFT5LDLZG2HAYBKMYQLL"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20200227231527/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92584"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1648.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1649.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1650.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2054.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2055.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2056.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-14T21:46:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-09-26T14:59:00Z"
  }
}