# CVE-2016-0799: Integer overflow in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause denial of service via integer overflow in OpenSSL's string formatting function when processing long strings or ASN.1 data.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Mar 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-0799, GHSA-x493-jjcm-ffg2, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-0799

## What is CVE-2016-0799?

CVE-2016-0799 is a critical vulnerability in Openssl Openssl, published on 3 Mar 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The fmtstr function in crypto/bio/b_print.c in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1s and 1.0.2 before 1.0.2g improperly calculates string lengths, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (overflow and out-of-bounds read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a long string, as demonstrated by a large amount of ASN.1 data, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-2842.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-0799?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Openssl Openssl, Pulsesecure Client, Pulsesecure Steel Belted Radius.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-0799?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-0799 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-0799 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Openssl Openssl

- [CVE-2009-3245](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3245/): Null dereference in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-3738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-3738/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-63073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63073/): Untrusted Sender DN Used as Format String in CMP Response Validation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-6309](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6309/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-2842](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-2842/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-0799 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-0799 is a critical vulnerability in Openssl Openssl, published on 3 Mar 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-0799 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Openssl Openssl. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0799/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0799/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-0799
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0799
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-0799

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0799/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.