Is CVE-2017-16796 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2017-16796 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2017-16796 be exploited remotely?

No. CVE-2017-16796 requires local access to exploit.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-16796?

CVE-2017-16796 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2017-16796

HIGH

CVE-2017-16796

CWE-119Published: November 12, 2017· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

In SWFTools 0.9.2, the png_load function in lib/png.c does not check the return value of a realloc call, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors involving an IDAT tag in a crafted PNG file.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2017-16796 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-119): Buffer overflow vulnerabilities can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service by corrupting adjacent memory.