CVE-2016-9181: perl-Image-Info: When parsing an SVG file, external entity expansion (XXE) was not disabled

This month

HIGH 7.1DOWNGRADE

CVE-2016-9181 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.1) affecting image-info for perl. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

perl-Image-Info: When parsing an SVG file, external entity expansion (XXE) was not disabled. An attacker could craft an SVG file which, when processed by an application using perl-Image-Info, could cause denial of service or, potentially, information disclosure.

Why this priority

High severity

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.1 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.2% (top 31%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-611
Published	2016-12-22
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: image-info project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-12-22 21:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:55 UTCUpdated Record last modified

image-info project image-info for perl DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.16 · 1.30

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.16

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy image-info-for-perl || rpm -q image-info-for-perl || image-info-for-perl --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.16 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison image-info-for-perl sudo apt install image-info-for-perl=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.16> sudo apt-mark hold image-info-for-perl

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

dnf --showduplicates list image-info-for-perl sudo dnf downgrade image-info-for-perl-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.16> sudo dnf versionlock add image-info-for-perl

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-2016-9181?

image-info for perl: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-9181 being exploited?

CVE-2016-9181 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-2016-9181 affect?

CVE-2016-9181 affects image-info for perl. Severity is high (CVSS 7.1). perl-Image-Info: When parsing an SVG file, external entity expansion (XXE) was not disabled. An attacker could craft an SVG file which, when processed by an application using perl-Image-Info, could cause denial of service or, potentially, i

How urgent is CVE-2016-9181?

Priority 42/100. High severity

Software pages

Perl vulnerabilities

References

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