CVE-2016-3735Network attack vector

Account takeover via predictable password-reset tokens

Published Jan 28, 2022 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Predictable password-reset tokens in Piwigo before 2.8.1 allow remote attackers to take over accounts through the reset workflow. The generate_key() function falls back to mt_rand() when OpenSSL randomness is unavailable, producing tokens whose values can be predicted after recovery of the PRNG seed. Exploitation is unauthenticated but requires a known administrator email address and a host that takes the fallback path, granting control of that account.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability1.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Predictable password-reset tokens in Piwigo before 2.8.1 allow remote attackers to take over accounts through the reset workflow. The generate_key() function falls back to mt_rand() when OpenSSL randomness is unavailable, producing tokens whose values can be predicted after recovery of the PRNG seed. Exploitation is unauthenticated but requires a known administrator email address and a host that takes the fallback path, granting control of that account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2016-3735
Published
Jan 28, 2022
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Piwigo
Product
Piwigo
Classifications
CWE-335, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=piwigo < 2.8.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Piwigo · Piwigoversion=piwigo < 2.8.1

Published CVSS scores

8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-335Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
T1078Valid Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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