Description
DCMTK through 3.6.6 does not handle memory free properly. The program malloc a heap memory for parsing data, but does not free it when error in parsing. Sending specific requests to the dcmqrdb program incur the memory leak. An attacker can use it to launch a DoS attack.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | dcmtk | 3.6.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | dcmtk | 3.6.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | dcmtk | 3.6.7-1 | — |
| Debian 11 | dcmtk | 3.6.5-1+deb11u1 | DLA-4038-1 |
| Debian 10 | dcmtk | 3.6.4-2.1+deb10u1 | DLA-3847-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.4-2.1ubuntu0.1 | USN-7010-2, USN-7010-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.7-9.1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7010-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.6-5ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7010-1, USN-5882-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.4-2.1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-5882-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.2-3ubuntu0.1~esm3 | USN-7010-2, USN-7010-1, USN-5882-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.1~20150924-5ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7010-2, USN-7010-1, USN-5882-1 |
Advisories 5
- USN-7010-2 dcmtk regression Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Aug 31, 2026
- USN-5882-1 dcmtk vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Aug 31, 2026
- USN-7010-1 dcmtk vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- DLA-3847-1 dcmtk - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-4038-1 dcmtk - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026