# CVE-2016-8705: Integer overflow in Memcached

> Integer overflows in Memcached's binary protocol processing allow remote attackers to trigger heap overflows and execute arbitrary code.

- **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:** 6 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2016-8705, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-8705, GHSA-52x7-vqgq-5mww, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-8705

## What is CVE-2016-8705?

CVE-2016-8705 is a critical vulnerability in Memcached, published on 6 Jan 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple integer overflows in process_bin_update function in Memcached, which is responsible for processing multiple commands of Memcached binary protocol, can be abused to cause heap overflow and lead to remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8705?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Memcached Memcached.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8705?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-8705 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8705 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Memcached

- [CVE-2023-46853](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46853/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-8704](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8704/): Integer overflow in Memcached (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-47783](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-47783/): Information disclosure in memcached (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2026-47784](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-47784/): Information disclosure in memcached (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2016-8706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8706/): Integer overflow in Memcached (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8705 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8705 is a critical vulnerability in Memcached, published on 6 Jan 2017. 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-2016-8705 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Memcached. 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-2016-8705/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8705/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8705
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8705
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8705

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8705/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.