# CVE-2016-9448: LibTiff NULL pointer dereference in TIFFFetchNormalTag

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-9448-libtiff-null-pointer-dereference-in-tifffetchnormaltag  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2017-01-27. Updated: 2026-05-13  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-9448 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2017-01-27

LibTiff is a widely used library for reading and writing Tag Image File Format (TIFF) files, often utilized by image viewers and document processing software. A vulnerability in this library allows a remote attacker to crash applications that process specially crafted TIFF images. This results in a denial-of-service condition, potentially disrupting business operations or services that handle automated image processing.

Technologies: [Libtiff](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/libtiff), [Opensuse](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opensuse). Vendors: [Libtiff](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/libtiff), [Opensuse](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/opensuse).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-9448 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-9448 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-9448?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 27 January 2017.

**Which products and versions are affected?** LibTiff Project LibTiff 4.0.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-9448?** A patch was published on 2016-11-16: Fix committed to LibTiff CVS repository Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-9448 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-9448?** Check whether you run Libtiff or Opensuse. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A NULL pointer dereference exists in the TIFFFetchNormalTag function within tif_dirread.c of LibTiff 4.0.6. The vulnerability is triggered when the library processes TIFF_SETGET_C16ASCII or TIFF_SETGET_C32_ASCII tags that point to 0-byte arrays, leading to an invalid memory access and subsequent process crash. This issue stemmed from an incomplete fix for a previous vulnerability (CVE-2016-9297). An attacker can exploit this by providing a malicious TIFF file to any application linked against the vulnerable library. The issue was resolved in LibTiff version 4.0.7 and various downstream Linux distribution patches.

## Affected products

- LibTiff Project LibTiff 4.0.6

## Timeline

- 2016-11-16: disclosed: Bug reported to LibTiff Bugzilla (Bug 2593)
- 2016-11-16: patched: Fix committed to LibTiff CVS repository
- 2016-11-18: other: CVE-2016-9448 assigned
- 2017-01-27: advisory: NVD advisory published

## References

- [http://bugzilla.maptools.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2593](http://bugzilla.maptools.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2593)
- [http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00017.html](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-12/msg00017.html)
- [http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3762](http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3762)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/18/15](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/18/15)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94420](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94420)
- [https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-16](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-16)

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