# CVE-2016-9453: LibTIFF out-of-bounds write in tiff2pdf

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-9453-libtiff-out-of-bounds-write-in-tiff2pdf  
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-2016-9453 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2017-01-27

LibTIFF is a widely used software library for handling TIFF image files. A vulnerability in its tiff2pdf tool could allow an attacker to crash applications or potentially execute unauthorized code if a user is tricked into opening a specially crafted, malicious image file. This could lead to a loss of system availability or a compromise of the user's workstation.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-9453 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-9453 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-9453?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 27 January 2017.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Libtiff up to (excluding) 4.0.7.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-9453?** A patch was published on 2016-10-08: Fix committed to LibTIFF source code Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2016-9453 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-9453?** Check whether you run Libtiff at an affected version. 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

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the t2p_readwrite_pdf_image_tile function within LibTIFF's tiff2pdf tool. The flaw is triggered when processing a JPEG-compressed TIFF image where the TIFFTAG_JPEGTABLES tag has a length of one. This causes an incorrect buffer offset calculation during a memcpy operation, leading to a heap-based out-of-bounds write. An attacker can exploit this by providing a malicious file to a user, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution or causing a denial of service (crash). The issue was addressed in LibTIFF version 4.0.7.

## Affected products

- LibTIFF LibTIFF up to (excluding) 4.0.7

## Timeline

- 2016-09-28: disclosed: Initial report to LibTIFF bugzilla
- 2016-10-08: patched: Fix committed to LibTIFF source code
- 2017-01-27: advisory: NVD publication date

## References

- [http://bugzilla.maptools.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2579](http://bugzilla.maptools.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2579)
- [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/2016/11/19/1](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/11/19/1)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94406](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94406)
- [https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-16](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-16)

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