CVE-2025-26623: Use After Free in Exiv2
Impact A heap buffer overflow was found in Exiv2 versions v0.28.0 to v0.28.4. Versions prior to v0.28.0, such as v0.27.7, are not affected. Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. The heap overflow is triggered when Exiv2 is used to write metadata into a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to gain code execution, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file.
Note that this bug is only triggered when writing the metadata, which is a less frequently used Exiv2 operation than reading the metadata. For example, to trigger the bug in the Exiv2 command-line application, you need to add an extra command-line argument such as fixiso.
Patches The bug is fixed in version v0.28.5.
References Issue: https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/issues/3168 Fix: https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/pull/3174
For more information Please see our security policy for information about Exiv2 security.
Other sources
Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC image metadata. A heap buffer overflow was found in Exiv2 versions v0.28.0 to v0.28.4. Versions prior to v0.28.0, such as v0.27.7, are not affected. Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. The heap overflow is triggered when Exiv2 is used to write metadata into a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to gain code execution, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. Note that this bug is only triggered when writing the metadata, which is a less frequently used Exiv2 operation than reading the metadata. For example, to trigger the bug in the Exiv2 command-line application, you need to add an extra command-line argument such as fixiso. The bug is fixed in version v0.28.5. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
pip/Exiv2to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 0.28.5 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Exiv2to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in v0.28.5
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2025-26623?
CVE-2025-26623 has been rated with a high severity due to the potential for a heap buffer overflow.
How do I fix CVE-2025-26623?
To fix CVE-2025-26623, upgrade Exiv2 to version 0.28.5 or later.
Which versions of Exiv2 are affected by CVE-2025-26623?
Exiv2 versions from 0.28.0 to 0.28.4 are affected by CVE-2025-26623.
Is Exiv2 version 0.27.7 affected by CVE-2025-26623?
No, Exiv2 version 0.27.7 is not affected by CVE-2025-26623.
What types of vulnerabilities does CVE-2025-26623 involve?
CVE-2025-26623 involves a heap buffer overflow vulnerability.