CVE-2026-59981
OpenEXR: Heap OOB read in SampleCountChannel row when using nonzero dataWindow
Description
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image file format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions through 3.2.10, 3.3.0 through 3.3.12, and 3.4.0 through 3.4.13, the OpenEXRUtil library returns an out-of-bounds pointer from the SampleCountChannel::row() API when a deep image has a non-zero dataWindow origin. The row() accessor is documented as 0-based and computes its address from an internal base that is offset for absolute pixel coordinates, so the two coordinate models conflict whenever dataWindow.min is non-zero. For a deep image whose data window has a large negative vertical origin, row(0) points far outside the allocated sample-count buffer. An application that opens an attacker-controlled deep EXR file and accesses sample counts through row() performs an out-of-bounds read, which can crash the process or, under a controlled heap layout, return adjacent heap memory as sample-count values. This issue is fixed in versions 3.2.11, 3.3.13, and 3.4.14.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 25, 2026, 8:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 25, 2026, 8:16 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | MITRE-CVE |
Solution
- Update OpenEXRUtil to version 3.2.11 or later.
- Update OpenEXRUtil to version 3.3.13 or later.
- Update OpenEXRUtil to version 3.4.14 or later.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-59981.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-59981 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-59981
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
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The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-59981 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-59981 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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New CVE Received by [email protected]
Aug. 25, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'AcademySoftwareFoundation', 'product': 'openexr', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '< 3.2.11'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 3.3.0, < 3.3.13'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 3.4.0, < 3.4.14'}]}] Added Description OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image file format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions through 3.2.10, 3.3.0 through 3.3.12, and 3.4.0 through 3.4.13, the OpenEXRUtil library returns an out-of-bounds pointer from the SampleCountChannel::row() API when a deep image has a non-zero dataWindow origin. The row() accessor is documented as 0-based and computes its address from an internal base that is offset for absolute pixel coordinates, so the two coordinate models conflict whenever dataWindow.min is non-zero. For a deep image whose data window has a large negative vertical origin, row(0) points far outside the allocated sample-count buffer. An application that opens an attacker-controlled deep EXR file and accesses sample counts through row() performs an out-of-bounds read, which can crash the process or, under a controlled heap layout, return adjacent heap memory as sample-count values. This issue is fixed in versions 3.2.11, 3.3.13, and 3.4.14. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H Added CWE CWE-125 Added Reference https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/37f03b6ed90f3dd9910f31de3a40f25f2bc2aca1 Added Reference https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/55b7958ecb5ac32c427ff39c1e063f6f7bbee77c Added Reference https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/aef02224ba282a802de65d16c49c1cdb82089dec Added Reference https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/security/advisories/GHSA-m799-ffc3-8pxc