---
title: "CVE-2016-5684\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-2016-5684?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-5684

Publication date 6 January 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5684?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

An exploitable out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the XMP image
handling functionality of the FreeImage library. A specially crafted XMP
file can cause an arbitrary memory overwrite resulting in code execution.
An attacker can provide a malicious image to trigger this vulnerability.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| freeimage | 18.10 cosmic | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 17.10 artful | Ignored end of life |
| 17.04 zesty | Ignored end of life |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 3.17.0+ds1-2ubuntu0.1 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 3.15.4-3ubuntu0.1 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |

---

* [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**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-5684)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5684)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-5684)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5684)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3925-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3925-1)
+ FreeImage vulnerability
+ 28 March 2019

### Other references

* <http://www.talosintelligence.com/reports/TALOS-2016-0189/>
* <http://freeimage.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/freeimage/FreeImage/Source/FreeImage/PluginXPM.cpp?r1=1.17&r2=1.18>
* <http://freeimage.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/freeimage/FreeImage/Source/FreeImage/PluginXPM.cpp?r1=1.18&r2=1.19>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5684>