CVE-2016-1516 Double Free in OpenCV

What is CVE-2016-1516?

CVE-2016-1516 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 10 Apr 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

OpenCV 3.0.0 has a double free issue that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-415

Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-1516?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including opencv-contrib-python and opencv-python. It affects 2 products.

Products include Debian Debian Linux, Opencv Opencv.

How do I fix CVE-2016-1516?

Upgrade opencv-contrib-python to 3.3.1.11 or later.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2016-1516 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-1516 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

• CVE-2015-3306 ProFTPD Improper Access Control Exploited Critical 10.0
• CVE-2025-49113 RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data Exploited Critical 9.9
• CVE-2026-24061 GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2025-39682 Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2024-9680 Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free Exploited Critical 9.8

All Debian Debian Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2016-1516, GHSA-cvhw-2593-5j2q, PYSEC-2026-2816, PYSEC-2026-707, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-1516.