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TI-2026-37265 Aliases CVE-2026-50538

libvncclient Tight decoder has an attacker-controlled heap out-of-bounds write

Priority HIGH 73CWE-122Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-122 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

LibVNCClient is a library for easy implementation of a VNC client. In versions 0.9.12 through 0.9.15, a malicious (or man-in-the-middle) VNC server can force a connecting `libvncclient` to write attacker-controlled data past the end of its framebuffer. This is an out-of-bounds heap write with attacker-controlled length, contents, and offset. It needs no authentication (the attacker is the server), works in a default build with default settings, and fires from a single `FramebufferUpdate` the moment the victim connects. It crashes any client unconditionally (denial of service); we also demonstrated it overwriting an application callback pointer and redirecting execution to attacker-chosen code (code execution) under the default configuration. Commit 540332be3e0acc566fa64da6f1b4680c72c724dd patches the issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00404 34th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
LibVNClibvncserver0.9.12 – 0.9.15—No fix listedCNA
  • libvncserver VendorLibVNC Affected 0.9.12 – 0.9.15 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-50538

References

  • TI-2019-11774 Heap-based buffer overflow in LibVNCServer CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-32847 LibVNCClient Tight Gradient decoding allows malicious server-triggered heap/stack OOB writes CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences