---
title: "CVE-2016-8862\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-2016-8862?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-8862

Publication date 21 October 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**8.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-8862?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The AcquireMagickMemory function in MagickCore/memory.c in ImageMagick
before 7.0.3.3 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a
crafted image, which triggers a memory allocation failure.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-8862?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| imagemagick | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 8:6.8.9.9-7ubuntu8.2 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 8:6.8.9.9-7ubuntu5.3 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 8:6.7.7.10-6ubuntu3.3 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 8:6.6.9.7-5ubuntu3.6 |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-8862?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

the initial patch was incomplete and resulted in CVE-2016-8866
This is 0171-Lowered-max-map\_length-to-prevent-an-overflow-271.patch

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| imagemagick | * Upstream:   [aea6c65](https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/commit/aea6c6507f55632829e6432f8177a084a57c9fcc) * Upstream:   [ab2c9d6](https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/commit/ab2c9d6a8dd6d71b161ec9cc57a588b116b52322) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

8.8 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | 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 | 8.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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-2016-8862)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8862)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-8862)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-8862)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3142-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3142-1)
+ ImageMagick vulnerabilities
+ 30 November 2016

### Other references

* <https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/10/17/imagemagick-memory-allocation-failure-in-acquiremagickmemory-memory-c/>
* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/17/4>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8862>