Ollama Multi-Modal Model Image Processing NULL Pointer Dereference
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Ollama 0.11.5-rc0 through current version 0.13.5 contain a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the multi-modal model image processing functionality. When processing base64-encoded image data via the /api/chat endpoint, the application fails to validate that the decoded data represents valid media before passing it to the mtmd_helper_bitmap_init_from_buf function. This function can return NULL for malformed input, but the code does not check this return value before dereferencing the pointer in subsequent operations. A remote attacker can exploit this by sending specially crafted base64 image data that decodes to invalid media, causing a segmentation fault and crashing the runner process. This results in a denial of service condition where the model becomes unavailable to all users until the service is restarted.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ollama | Ollama | v0.11.5-rc0 – 0.13.5 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Ollama Vendorollama Affected v0.11.5-rc0 – 0.13.5 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:*:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.6 – 0.13.5 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc0:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc0 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc1 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc2 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc3 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc4 | Vulnerable | ollama |
| cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.11.5 rc5 | Vulnerable | ollama |
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:*:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.6 – 0.13.5 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc0:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc0 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc1 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc2 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc3 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc4 Vulnerable ·ollama
- cpe:2.3:a:ollama:ollama:0.11.5:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.11.5 rc5 Vulnerable ·ollama
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-15514
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6q56-mrmc-cph4
References
More Ollama vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-24572 Ollama before 0.1.34 does not validate the format of the digest (sha256 with 64 hex… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-26641 An issue was discovered in Ollama before 0.1.46. CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
- TI-2025-41098 An issue in ollama v.0.12.10 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-41097 An issue in ollama v.0.12.10 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the GGUF decoder CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-01720 Improper Validation of Array Index in ollama/ollama CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-00256 Divide By Zero in ollama/ollama CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2025-15514 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-15514 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6q56-mrmc-cph4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-15514 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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