# CVE-2016-8706: Integer overflow in Memcached

> An integer overflow in Memcached's SASL authentication allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via heap overflow.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/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-2016-8706, DEBIAN-CVE-2016-8706, GHSA-xj8f-h9rc-62vh, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-8706

## What is CVE-2016-8706?

CVE-2016-8706 is a high-severity 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

An integer overflow in process_bin_sasl_auth function in Memcached, which is responsible for authentication 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-2016-8706?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Memcached Memcached.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8706?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-8706 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-8706 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Memcached Server SASL Authentication - Remote Code Execution (nuclei)

## 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-2016-8705](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8705/): 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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8706 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8706 is a high-severity 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-8706 exists.

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-2016-8706/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8706/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8706
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8706
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8706

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8706/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.