---
title: "CVE-2016-5290\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-2016-5290?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-5290

Publication date 16 November 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5290?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

Memory safety bugs were reported in Firefox 49 and Firefox ESR 45.4. Some
of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with
enough effort that some of these could be exploited to run arbitrary code.
This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 45.5, Firefox ESR < 45.5, and
Firefox < 50.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| firefox | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 50.0+build2-0ubuntu0.16.10.2 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 50.0+build2-0ubuntu0.16.04.2 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 50.0+build2-0ubuntu0.14.04.2 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 50.0+build2-0ubuntu0.12.04.2 |
| thunderbird | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 1:45.5.1+build1-0ubuntu0.16.10.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1:45.5.1+build1-0ubuntu0.16.04.1 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1:45.5.1+build1-0ubuntu0.14.04.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 1:45.5.1+build1-0ubuntu0.12.04.1 |

---

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

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-5290)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5290)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-5290)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5290)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3141-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3141-1)
+ Thunderbird vulnerabilities
+ 1 December 2016

+ [USN-3124-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3124-1)
+ Firefox vulnerabilities
+ 19 November 2016

### Other references

* <https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2016-89/>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5290>