CVE-2016-5384: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-g839-937g-3fhv
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CVSS 7.8
CWE-415
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-5384 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-415: Double Free) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product calls free() twice on the same memory address.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2016-5384 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-5384
GHSA Identifier GHSA-g839-937g-3fhv
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CWE Classification CWE-415: Double Free
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2016-5384

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-5384, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-415: Double Free, where the product calls free() twice on the same memory address. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

fontconfig before 2.12.1 does not validate offsets, which allows local users to trigger arbitrary free calls and consequently conduct double free attacks and execute arbitrary code via a crafted cache file.

References

NVD — CVE-2016-5384 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5384
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:2601
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-5384
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1350891
cgit.freedesktop.org/fontconfig/commit/ WEB
https://cgit.freedesktop.org/fontconfig/commit/?id=7a4a5bd7897d216f0794ca9dbce0a4a5c9d14940
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6CJ45VRAMCIISHOVKFVOQYQUSTUJP7FC
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GGOS4YYB7UYAWX5AEXJZHDIX4ZMSXSW5
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6CJ45VRAMCIISHOVKFVOQYQUSTUJP7FC
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GGOS4YYB7UYAWX5AEXJZHDIX4ZMSXSW5
lists.freedesktop.org/archives/fontconfig... WEB
https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/fontconfig/2016-August/005792.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2016-26... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2601.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3644
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92339
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3063-1 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3063-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-5384?
CVE-2016-5384 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-415: Double Free.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2016-5384?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-5384?
CVE-2016-5384 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-5384?
CVE-2016-5384 is classified under CWE-415: Double Free (The product calls free() twice on the same memory address.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-5384?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "id" : "GHSA-g839-937g-3fhv",
  "modified" : "2025-04-12T13:03:30Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:04:13Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-5384" ],
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  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-415" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-08-13T01:59:00Z"
  }
}