Critical severity9.8NVD Advisory· Published Mar 17, 2016· Updated Jun 17, 2026
CVE-2016-3191
CVE-2016-3191
Description
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.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
35cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 19 more
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*range: <=10.21
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:pcre:pcre:8.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- (no CPE)range: <8.39
- osv-coords15 versionspkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Desktop%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Desktop%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20High%20Availability%20Extension%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20High%20Availability%20Extension%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012-LTSSpkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20Raspberry%20Pi%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Workstation%20Extension%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pcre&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Workstation%20Extension%2012%20SP2
< 8.39-5.1+ 14 more
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-7.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-7.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
- (no CPE)range: < 8.39-5.1
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
13- bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cginvdExploit
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1025.htmlnvd
- vcs.pcre.org/pcre2nvd
- vcs.pcre.org/pcrenvd
- www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wssnvd
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.htmlnvd
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/84810nvd
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1132nvd
- bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa128nvd
- bugs.debian.org/815920nvd
- bugs.debian.org/815921nvd
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cginvd
- www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18nvd
News mentions
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