CVE-2016-3088

CRITICAL KEV RANSOMWARE NUCLEI

ActiveMQ web shell upload

Title source: metasploit
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2016-3088 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added February 10, 2022, with confirmed use in ransomware campaigns. EIP tracks 13 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, David Jorm, YutuSec, including a Metasploit module exploits/multi/http/apache_activemq_upload_jsp. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2016-3088 in Apache ActiveMQ by uploading a malicious JAR and JSP file via HTTP PUT and MOVE requests, achieving remote code execution. It leverages file upload and directory traversal to deploy a payload.

Description

The Fileserver web application in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.14.0 allows remote attackers to upload and execute arbitrary files via an HTTP PUT followed by an HTTP MOVE request.

Exploits (13)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubyremotejava
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42283

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2016-3088 in Apache ActiveMQ by uploading a malicious JAR and JSP file via HTTP PUT and MOVE requests, achieving remote code execution. It leverages file upload and directory traversal to deploy a payload.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.14.0
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to the target · Valid credentials for Basic Authentication
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by David Jorm · textremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40857

This exploit demonstrates a directory traversal vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ's fileserver functionality on Windows systems, allowing an attacker to upload arbitrary files, including a JSP shell, leading to remote code execution. The PoC includes steps to overwrite configuration files and upload a malicious JSP file to achieve RCE.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions affected by CVE-2016-3088)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Access to the target server's fileserver endpoint · Ability to send HTTP PUT requests · Knowledge of the target's operating system (Windows)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 19 stars
by YutuSec · poc
https://github.com/YutuSec/ActiveMQ_Crack

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which targets Apache ActiveMQ's arbitrary file write vulnerability. The code checks for default credentials, then exploits the vulnerability to write a JSP file to the server and verify its execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions affected by CVE-2016-3088)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to the ActiveMQ admin interface · Default credentials (admin:admin) or knowledge of valid credentials
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 15 stars
by Ma1Dong · remote
https://github.com/Ma1Dong/ActiveMQ_putshell-CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which targets Apache ActiveMQ. The exploit leverages a directory traversal vulnerability to upload a malicious JSP file, achieving remote code execution (RCE) by writing a webshell to the server.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions affected by CVE-2016-3088)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Target URL with vulnerable ActiveMQ instance · Basic authentication credentials (default: admin:admin)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 5 stars
by cyberaguiar · remote-auth
https://github.com/cyberaguiar/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which leverages an arbitrary file upload and move vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ's Fileserver web application to achieve remote code execution via a JSP webshell.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.14.0
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to the target · Valid credentials for authentication · Target running vulnerable version of Apache ActiveMQ
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 4 stars
by cl4ym0re · remote-auth
https://github.com/cl4ym0re/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2016-3088, targeting Apache ActiveMQ. The exploit leverages weak default credentials and a file upload vulnerability to achieve remote code execution by deploying a JSP webshell.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ versions 5.x.x
Auth required
Prerequisites: Apache ActiveMQ with default credentials (admin:admin) · Access to the admin interface and fileserver
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by Catherines77 · poc
https://github.com/Catherines77/ActiveMQ-EXPtools

This repository contains a Java-based tool for detecting and exploiting multiple Apache ActiveMQ vulnerabilities, including CVE-2016-3088. It includes a GUI for environment detection, authentication handling, and exploit execution.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Deserialization
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ
Auth required
Prerequisites: target URL · authentication credentials (if required)
devstral-2 · analyzed Apr 20, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC
by dyeat · pythonpoc
https://github.com/dyeat/cve-reproduction/tree/main/Apache/ActiveMQ/CVE-2016-3088

The repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which leverages arbitrary file upload via the ActiveMQ Fileserver PUT/MOVE methods to achieve remote code execution (RCE). The exploit uploads a malicious JSP file and executes commands on the target system.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions 5.x)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Access to the ActiveMQ admin interface · Default or weak credentials (admin:admin) · Fileserver endpoint enabled
devstral-2 · analyzed May 22, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by HeArtE4t3r · remote
https://github.com/HeArtE4t3r/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which targets Apache ActiveMQ 5.x to 5.14.0. The exploit leverages a file upload vulnerability to deploy a JSP webshell, enabling remote code execution (RCE) via crafted HTTP requests.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ 5.x to 5.14.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target ActiveMQ instance · ActiveMQ fileserver endpoint accessible
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by vonderchild · remote-auth
https://github.com/vonderchild/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which allows remote code execution in Apache ActiveMQ via directory traversal and file upload vulnerabilities. The exploit uploads a JSP shell to the target server and provides a web interface for command execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions prior to 5.14.0)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid credentials for authentication · Network access to the target ActiveMQ instance
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by wood03mm · poc
https://github.com/wood03mm/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional Python exploit for CVE-2016-3088, an arbitrary file write vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ. The exploit authenticates with default credentials, writes a malicious file via the fileserver endpoint, and moves it to a web-accessible directory to achieve remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions before 5.14.0)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Default or known credentials for the ActiveMQ admin interface · Network access to the ActiveMQ admin interface (typically port 8161)
devstral-2 · analyzed Jun 07, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by pudiding · remote-auth
https://github.com/pudiding/CVE-2016-3088

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2016-3088, which targets Apache ActiveMQ. The exploit leverages arbitrary file upload and move operations to deploy a malicious JSP file, achieving remote code execution (RCE).

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ (versions prior to 5.13.2)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid credentials for the ActiveMQ admin interface · Access to the admin interface on port 8161 (default)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC EXCELLENT
rubypocjava
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/apache_activemq_upload_jsp.rb

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2016-3088 in Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.14.0 by uploading a malicious JAR and JSP file via HTTP PUT and MOVE requests, achieving remote code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Apache ActiveMQ 5.x before 5.14.0
Auth required
Prerequisites: Network access to the target · Valid credentials for authentication
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

Apache ActiveMQ Fileserver - Arbitrary File Write
CRITICALby fq_hsu
Shodan: cpe:"cpe:2.3:a:apache:activemq" || product:"activemq openwire transport"

References (10)

Core 10
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry x_refsource_misc
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-16-356
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42283/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry x_refsource_misc
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-16-357
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2036.html
Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035951

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.9428
EPSS Percentile 99.9%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable yes
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2022-02-10
VulnCheck KEV 2018-09-19
InTheWild.io 2022-02-10
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2022-5255
Ransomware Use Confirmed
CWE
CWE-434
Status published
Products (2)
apache/activemq 5.0.0 - 5.14.0
org.apache.activemq/activemq-client 5.0.0 - 5.14.0Maven
Published Jun 01, 2016
KEV Added Feb 10, 2022
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026