CVE-2016-5843: Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the FAQ package 2.x before 2.3.6, 4.x before 4.0.5, and 5.x before 5

This week

CRITICAL 9.4REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2016-5843 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.4) affecting faq. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the FAQ package 2.x before 2.3.6, 4.x before 4.0.5, and 5.x before 5.0.5 in Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via crafted search parameters.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.4 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	3.2% (top 12%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-89
Published	2016-09-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: otrs

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-09-17 02:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

otrs faq DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0.1 · 2.0.2 · 2.0.3 · 2.0.4 · 2.0.5 · 2.0.6 · 2.0.7 · 2.0.8

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy faq || rpm -q faq || faq --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison faq sudo apt install faq=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.1> sudo apt-mark hold faq

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list faq sudo dnf downgrade faq-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.1> sudo dnf versionlock add faq

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2016-5843?

faq: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-5843 being exploited?

CVE-2016-5843 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2016-5843 affect?

CVE-2016-5843 affects faq. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.4). Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the FAQ package 2.x before 2.3.6, 4.x before 4.0.5, and 5.x before 5.0.5 in Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via crafted search parameters.

How urgent is CVE-2016-5843?

Priority 60/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-21438 LOW 3.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE Agents are able to see linked FAQ articles without permissions (defined in FAQ Category)
CVE-2013-2637 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE UPGRADE A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability exists in OTRS ITSM prior to 3.2.4, 3.1.8, and 3.0.7 and FAQ prior
CVE-2013-2625 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE An Access Bypass issue exists in OTRS Help Desk before 3.2.4, 3.1.14, and 3.0.19, OTRS ITSM before 3.2.3, 3.1.
CVE-2012-1646 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the FAQ module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.13 and 7.x-1.x-rc1
CVE-2006-4008 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in index.php in Knusperleicht Faq 1.0 allows remote attackers to execu

References

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