---
title: "CVE-2017-16803\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-2017-16803?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-16803

Publication date 13 November 2017

Last updated 26 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-16803?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

In Libav through 11.11 and 12.x through 12.1, the smacker\_decode\_tree
function in libavcodec/smacker.c does not properly restrict tree recursion,
which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service
(bitstream.c:build\_table() out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a
crafted Smacker stream.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| libav | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not in release |
| 25.10 questing | Not in release |
| 25.04 plucky | Not in release |
| 24.10 oracular | Not in release |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not in release |
| 23.10 mantic | Not in release |
| 23.04 lunar | Not in release |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not in release |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not in release |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 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 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Vulnerable |

---

* [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**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-16803)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16803)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-16803)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-16803)

### Other references

* <https://bugzilla.libav.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1098>
* <https://github.com/libav/libav/commit/cd4663dc80323ba64989d0c103d51ad3ee0e9c2f>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16803>