# CVE-2016-7980: SPIP CSRF in XML validator

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-7980-spip-csrf-in-xml-validator  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2017-01-18. Updated: 2026-05-13  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-7980 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2017-01-18

A security vulnerability exists in SPIP, a popular open-source content management system. An attacker can trick an authenticated administrator into clicking a malicious link, which then performs unauthorized actions on the website using the administrator's permissions. This specific flaw allows an attacker to trigger an XML validation process that, when combined with other vulnerabilities, could lead to the complete takeover of the website and the execution of malicious code.

Technologies: [Spip](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/spip). Vendors: [Spip](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/spip).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-7980 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-7980 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-7980?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 18 January 2017.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SPIP SPIP <= 3.1.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-7980?** A patch was published on 2016-09-28: Fixes issued for CSRF issue Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-7980 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-7980?** Check whether you run Spip. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability exists in 'ecrire/exec/valider_xml.php' in SPIP versions 3.1.2 and earlier. The application fails to validate a unique token for requests sent to the XML validator component, allowing a remote attacker to craft a malicious URL that, if visited by a logged-in administrator, executes the 'valider_xml' action. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be chained with CVE-2016-7998 (a PHP code execution flaw in the template compiler) to achieve full remote code execution (RCE). The issue was resolved in SPIP 3.1.3 by implementing 'var_token' validation and restricting execution rights to webmasters.

## Affected products

- SPIP SPIP <= 3.1.2

## Timeline

- 2016-09-15: disclosed: Initial discovery by Sysdream Labs
- 2016-09-28: patched: Fixes issued for CSRF issue
- 2016-09-30: patched: SPIP 3.1.3 released
- 2017-01-18: advisory: NVD published date

## References

- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/05/17](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/05/17)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/06/6](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/06/6)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/12/6](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/12/6)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93451](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93451)
- [https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23201](https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23201)
- [https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23202](https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23202)
- [https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23203](https://core.spip.net/projects/spip/repository/revisions/23203)

## Related threats

- [SPIP SQL injection via parameter mismatch](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122032-spip-before-4-4-29-contains-a-sql-injection-vulnerability-that)
- [SPIP server-side request forgery in recuperer_url()](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109378-spip-before-4-4-18-contains-a-server-side-request-forgery)
- [SPIP mass assignment in editer_objet leading to RCE](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72710-spip-mass-assignment-in-editer-objet-leading-to-rce)
- [SPIP missing authorization in sensitive actions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72709-spip-missing-authorization-in-sensitive-actions)
- [SPIP unauthenticated blind SQL injection in SQL escaping](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72708-spip-unauthenticated-blind-sql-injection-in-sql-escaping)