CVE-2025-26623
Description
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.
Predictions
Heuristic predictions, AS-IS, for prioritization only.
Mitigations
Vendor advisory: suse — https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-26623.html
Vendor advisory: debian — https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2025-26623
OS impact
| OS | Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| debian | bookworm | fixed | 0 |
| debian | bullseye | fixed | 0 |
| debian | forky | fixed | 0.28.4+dfsg-2 |
| debian | sid | fixed | 0.28.4+dfsg-2 |
| debian | trixie | fixed | 0.28.4+dfsg-2 |
| sles | affected | |
Package impact
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | exiv2 | >=0.28.0,<0.28.5 | 0.28.5 |
References
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-38h4-fx85-qcx7
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-26623
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/issues/3168
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/pull/3174
- https://github.com/jim-easterbrook/python-exiv2/commit/4cc875e392f9e0bc705fe03d929b9a382b78dae4
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2025-26623
- https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-26623.html
Verify integrity in audit chain (admin only). AS-IS.