# CVE-2016-3303: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a crafted embedded font in the Windows font library, affecting multiple Microsoft products.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Aug 2016
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4qmp-55x3-xph5

## What is CVE-2016-3303?

CVE-2016-3303 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Office, published on 9 Aug 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Windows font library in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Office 2007 SP3, Office 2010 SP2, Word Viewer, Skype for Business 2016, Lync 2013 SP1, Lync 2010, Lync 2010 Attendee, and Live Meeting 2007 Console allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted embedded font, aka "Windows Graphics Component RCE Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3304.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-3303?

It affects 8 products.


Products: Microsoft Live Meeting, Microsoft Lync, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Skype for Business, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Word Viewer.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-3303?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-3303 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-3303 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-3303 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows - GDI+ ValidateBitmapInfo Invalid Pointer Arithmetic Out-of-Bounds Reads (MS16-097) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office

- [CVE-2016-7182](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7182/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2015-6106](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6106/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2015-6107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-6107/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2015-2431](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2431/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2017-0108](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0108/): Memory corruption in Windows Graphics Component (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-3303 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-3303 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Office, published on 9 Aug 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-3303 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Office. 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-2016-3303/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3303/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-3303
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3303
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-3303

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-3303/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.