CVE-2016-4542: The exif_process_IFD_TAG function in ext/exif/exif.c in PHP before 5.5.35, 5.6.x before 5.6.21, and 7.x before 7.0.6 does not properly…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Plan (action score 41/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 6% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 93.4% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: php5 (Debian:7) 5.4.45-0+deb7u3; php5 (Debian:8) 5.6.22+dfsg-0+deb8u1; php5 (SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12) 5.5.14-59.2.
Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to php5 (Debian:7) 5.4.45-0+deb7u3; php5 (Debian:8) 5.6.22+dfsg-0+deb8u1; php5 (SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12) 5.5.14-59.2 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
The exif_process_IFD_TAG function in ext/exif/exif.c in PHP before 5.5.35, 5.6.x before 5.6.21, and 7.x before 7.0.6 does not properly construct spprintf arguments, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted header data.
- Published
- May 21, 2016
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 6.0% · 93th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Report tools
Action score
41
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 2 / 30 · 6.0%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| php | php | cpe:2.3:a:php:php |
| opensuse | leap | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
Using php? Add it to your stack and be the first to know about CVEs like this one. (PHP)
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- php phpup to 5.5.34 inclusive
- php php5.6.0
- php php5.6.1
- php php5.6.10
- php php5.6.11
- php php5.6.12
- php php5.6.13
- php php5.6.14
+12 more rows
- php php5.6.15
- php php5.6.16
- php php5.6.17
- php php5.6.18
- php php5.6.19
- php php5.6.2
- php php5.6.20
- php php5.6.3
- php php5.6.4
- php php5.6.5
- php php5.6.6
- php php5.6.7
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:7 | php5 | before 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 | 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 |
| Debian:8 | php5 | before 5.6.22+dfsg-0+deb8u1 | 5.6.22+dfsg-0+deb8u1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12 | php5 | before 5.5.14-59.2 | 5.5.14-59.2 |
Same product
php: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-4577Argument Injection in PHP-CGIKEV99Now
- CVE-2019-11043Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCEKEV99Now
- CVE-2012-1823sapi/cgi/cgi_main.c in PHP before 5.3.12 and 5.4.x before 5.4.2, when configured as a CGI script (aka php-cgi), does not properly handle…KEV99Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-4540May 21, 2016 · The grapheme_stripos function in ext/intl/grapheme/grapheme_string.c in PHP before 5.5.35, 5.6.x before 5.6.21, and 7.x before 7.0.6 allows…41Plan
- ← EarlierCVE-2016-4541May 21, 2016 · The grapheme_strpos function in ext/intl/grapheme/grapheme_string.c in PHP before 5.5.35, 5.6.x before 5.6.21, and 7.x before 7.0.6 allows…41Plan
- Later →CVE-2016-4544May 21, 2016 · The exif_process_TIFF_in_JPEG function in ext/exif/exif.c in PHP before 5.5.35, 5.6.x before 5.6.21, and 7.x before 7.0.6 does not validate…41Plan
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:php5 | 5.4.45-0+deb7u3 · Debian:7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:php5 | 5.5.14-59.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (13 more)Show less
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-05/msg00086.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-06/msg00027.html
- php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
- php.net/ChangeLog-7.php
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2750.html
- www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3602
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/05/21
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/89844
- git.php.net/?p=php-src.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=082aecfc3a753ad03be82cf14f03ac065723ec92
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05240731
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05320149
- h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201611-22
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.