CVE-2016-3982: Off-by-one error in the bmp_rle4_fread function in pngxrbmp.c in OptiPNG before 0.7.6 allows remote attackers

Q: How do I fix CVE-2016-3982?

leap: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2016-3982 being exploited?

CVE-2016-3982 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2016-3982 affect?

CVE-2016-3982 affects leap, opensuse, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). Off-by-one error in the bmp_rle4_fread function in pngxrbmp.c in OptiPNG before 0.7.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read or write access and crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted image

Q: How urgent is CVE-2016-3982?

Priority 58/100. High severity; EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

This month

HIGH 8.8WATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2016-3982 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting leap, opensuse, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Off-by-one error in the bmp_rle4_fread function in pngxrbmp.c in OptiPNG before 0.7.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read or write access and crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted image file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	4.0% (top 10%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2016-04-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · opensuse · optipng project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-04-13 16:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:46 UTCUpdated Record last modified

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 42.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 42.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

opensuse opensuse MITIGATE

Affected: 13.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 13.2

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

optipng project optipng UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.7.5

Fixed in: newer than 0.7.5

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy optipng || rpm -q optipng || optipng --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.7.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade optipng

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade optipng

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 15.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2016-3982?

leap: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-3982 being exploited?

CVE-2016-3982 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2016-3982 affect?

CVE-2016-3982 affects leap, opensuse, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). Off-by-one error in the bmp_rle4_fread function in pngxrbmp.c in OptiPNG before 0.7.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read or write access and crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted image

How urgent is CVE-2016-3982?

Priority 58/100. High severity; EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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