How severe is CVE-2016-3621?

CVE-2016-3621 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-3621 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-3621?

CVE-2016-3621 affects Libtiff. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-3621?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-3621 published?

CVE-2016-3621 was published on 2016-10-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-3621

CVE-2016-3621 is a high-severity vulnerability in Libtiff with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. 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-125.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 6.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (79th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-125
Affected product: Libtiff
Published: 2016-10-03
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The LZWEncode function in tif_lzw.c in the bmp2tiff tool in LibTIFF 4.0.6 and earlier, when the "-c lzw" option is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read) via a crafted BMP image.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-3621?: The LZWEncode function in tif_lzw.c in the bmp2tiff tool in LibTIFF 4.0.6 and earlier, when the "-c lzw" option is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read) via a crafted BMP image.
How severe is CVE-2016-3621?: CVE-2016-3621 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-3621 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-3621?: CVE-2016-3621 affects Libtiff. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-3621?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-3621 published?: CVE-2016-3621 was published on 2016-10-03 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:libtiff:libtiff:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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