---
title: "CVE-2016-1898\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1898?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-1898

Publication date 14 January 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1898?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

FFmpeg 2.x allows remote attackers to conduct cross-origin attacks and read
arbitrary files by using the subfile protocol in an HTTP Live Streaming
(HLS) M3U8 file, leading to an external HTTP request in which the URL
string contains an arbitrary line of a local file.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

It was discovered that Libav incorrectly handled certain media
files. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of
service or other unspecified impact.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1898?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ffmpeg | 19.04 disco | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 18.10 cosmic | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 17.10 artful | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 17.04 zesty | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 7:2.8.6-1ubuntu1 |
| 15.10 wily | Fixed 7:2.7.5-0ubuntu0.15.10.1 |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| libav | 19.04 disco | Not in release |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 6:9.20-0ubuntu0.14.04.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 4:0.8.17-0ubuntu0.12.04.2 |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

DSA-3506-1 fixed this by building with --disable-protocol=concat

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | Required |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1898)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1898)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-1898)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1898)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-2944-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2944-1)
+ Libav vulnerabilities
+ 4 April 2016

### Other references

* <http://habrahabr.ru/company/mailru/blog/274855>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-1898>
