Description
DCMTK through 3.6.6 does not handle memory free properly. The malloced memory for storing all file information are recorded in a global variable LST and are not freed properly. Sending specific requests to the dcmqrdb program can incur a 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-7010-1 |
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~esm1 | USN-7010-1, USN-5882-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | dcmtk | 3.6.1~20150924-5ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7010-1, USN-5882-1 |
Advisories 4
- 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