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CVE-2016-5315 Debian CVE debrief

CVE-2016-5315 is a memory-safety issue in libtiff's setByteArray function that can trigger an out-of-bounds read when a crafted TIFF image is processed, resulting in denial of service. NVD assigns it CVSS 3.0 5.5 MEDIUM (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) and maps it to CWE-125.

Vendor
Debian
Product
Unknown
CVSS
MEDIUM 5.5
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-03-07
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-03-07
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Organizations that use libtiff directly or indirectly in applications, services, or desktop workflows that open TIFF images should care most, especially where users can supply untrusted files. Debian-based systems and downstream packagers should also check whether their installed libtiff packages include the fix referenced by vendor advisories.

Technical summary

The vulnerable code path is in libtiff 4.0.6 and earlier, where setByteArray in tif_dir.c can read past valid bounds when handling a crafted TIFF image. The NVD record classifies the weakness as CWE-125 (out-of-bounds read) and rates the impact as availability-only denial of service. The CVSS vector supplied by NVD is AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, so user interaction during image processing is part of the exposure model.

Defensive priority

Medium. The issue does not indicate confidentiality or integrity impact in the NVD vector, but it can crash affected software and is reachable through image handling paths that may be widely exposed to untrusted content.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade libtiff to a patched version provided by your upstream or distribution package maintainer.
  • Review systems that ingest TIFF files to identify where untrusted images can reach libtiff.
  • Apply distribution/vendor guidance for affected platforms, including the Debian advisory referenced in the CVE record if you manage Debian systems.
  • If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting or sandboxing TIFF processing from untrusted sources.

Evidence notes

All core claims are taken from the supplied NVD/CVE corpus: the description states that setByteArray in tif_dir.c in libtiff 4.0.6 and earlier allows denial of service via an out-of-bounds read on crafted TIFF input; NVD lists CWE-125 and CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. The referenced advisory set includes Debian DSA-3762, an oss-security mailing list post, SecurityFocus BID 91204, Red Hat bug 1346694, and Gentoo GLSA 201701-16.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-5315 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5315

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2016-5315 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5315

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.