---
id: "CVE-2016-0185"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-0185"]
title: "Microsoft Windows: Microsoft Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.69846
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Microsoft Windows", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "windows", "windows-media-center"]
not_affected_if: ["media-center-not-installed", "windows-10-or-later"]
published_at: "2016-05-11T01:59:26+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0185", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0185", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0185", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Microsoft Windows: Microsoft Windows Media Center Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Windows Media Center can run attacker code when it opens a specially crafted Media Center link (.mcl) file that points to malicious code. An attacker gets code execution as the user who opens the file.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Microsoft Windows affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Microsoft update for CVE-2016-0185 per vendor instructions (CISA required action); exact KB numbers are unknown from the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0185
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0185
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0185

## From the sources

Microsoft Windows Media Center contains a remote code execution vulnerability when Windows Media Center opens a specially crafted Media Center link (.mcl) file that references malicious code.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_