# CVE-2016-5684: Memory corruption in FreeImage

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code by providing a specially crafted XMP file to applications using the FreeImage library.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-5684, DLA-647-1, GHSA-wf6p-hgq4-x57x, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-5684, USN-3925-1

## What is CVE-2016-5684?

CVE-2016-5684 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Freeimage Project Freeimage, published on 6 Jan 2017. 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

An exploitable out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the XMP image handling functionality of the FreeImage library. A specially crafted XMP file can cause an arbitrary memory overwrite resulting in code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious image to trigger this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-5684?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Freeimage Project Freeimage.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-5684?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-5684 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5684 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Freeimage Project Freeimage

- [CVE-2025-70968](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-70968/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-31570](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31570/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-47992](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47992/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-47994](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47994/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-24292](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24292/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-5684 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-5684 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Freeimage Project Freeimage, published on 6 Jan 2017. 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-5684 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Freeimage Project Freeimage. 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-2016-5684/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5684/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5684
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5684
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-5684

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5684/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.