CVE-2016-7420

low-risk

Published 2016-09-16

Crypto++ (aka cryptopp) through 5.6.4 does not document the requirement for a compile-time NDEBUG definition disabling the many assert calls that are unintended in production use, which might allow context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging access to process memory after an assertion failure, as demonstrated by reading a core dump.

Do I need to act?

0.38% chance of exploitation

EPSS score — low exploit probability

Not on CISA KEV list

No confirmed active exploitation reported to CISA

Patch status unknown

Check vendor advisories for fix availability and mitigation guidance

CVSS 5.9/10 Medium

NETWORK / HIGH complexity

Affected Products (1)

Crypto\+\+

Affected Vendors

Cryptopp

References (15)

Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/12

Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/16/1

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/2

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/4

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92988

Issue Tracking https://github.com/weidai11/cryptopp/commit/553049ba297d89d9e8fbf2204acb40a8a53f...

Issue Tracking https://github.com/weidai11/cryptopp/issues/277

Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/12

Mailing List http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/16/1

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/2

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/4

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/11/14/5

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92988

Issue Tracking https://github.com/weidai11/cryptopp/commit/553049ba297d89d9e8fbf2204acb40a8a53f...

Issue Tracking https://github.com/weidai11/cryptopp/issues/277

/ 100

low-risk

Severity 18/34 · Moderate

Exploitability 1/34 · Minimal

Exposure 5/34 · Minimal