CVE-2011-3170

CVE-2011-3170 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Cups with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.1)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (89th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Apple Cups
• Published: 2011-08-19
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The gif_read_lzw function in filter/image-gif.c in CUPS 1.4.8 and earlier does not properly handle the first code word in an LZW stream, which allows remote attackers to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via a crafted stream, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-2896.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-3170?

The gif_read_lzw function in filter/image-gif.c in CUPS 1.4.8 and earlier does not properly handle the first code word in an LZW stream, which allows remote attackers to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow, and possibly execute arbitrary code, via a crafted stream, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-2896.

How severe is CVE-2011-3170?

CVE-2011-3170 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2011-3170 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-3170?

CVE-2011-3170 primarily affects Apple Cups. In total, 93 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-3170?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2011-3170 published?

CVE-2011-3170 was published on 2011-08-19 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://cups.org/str.php?L3914
• http://secunia.com/advisories/45796
• http://secunia.com/advisories/46024
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201207-10.xml
• http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2354
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:146
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:147
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/49323
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1025980
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1207-1
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=727800
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/69380

Affected products (93)

• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.9-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.10-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*

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