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TI-2026-38572 Aliases CVE-2026-53496GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4

ExifReader HEIC/AVIF ISO-BMFF parser throws uncaught RangeError on truncated boxes

Priority MEDIUM 63CWE-248Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-248.

Summary

ExifReader is a JavaScript Exif information parser. Prior to 4.40.1, ExifReader.load() and the asynchronous file and URL loaders can pass attacker-supplied HEIC or AVIF data to the ISO-BMFF parser in src/image-header-iso-bmff.js, where findMetaBox() and parseBox() accept an eight-byte box header without confirming that fields required by the parsed box remain in the DataView. A valid ftyp box followed by an empty free or unknown box can cause an unchecked full-box version read, while a truncated extended-size box can make getBoxLength() and hasEmptyHighBits() read absent size fields. The resulting RangeError escapes the main parsing path and can abort an application request or worker when parse errors are not defensively caught, causing denial of service. This issue is fixed in version 4.40.1.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00507 43rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed ExifReader (mattiasw): 4.40.1exifreader (npm): 4.40.1

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
mattiaswExifReaderbefore 4.40.14.40.1Patch availableCNA
—exifreader (npm)before 4.40.14.40.1Patch availableGHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4
  • ExifReader Vendormattiasw Affected before 4.40.1 Fixed in 4.40.1 Patch available CNA
  • exifreader (npm) Vendor— Affected before 4.40.1 Fixed in 4.40.1 Patch available GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA ExifReader (mattiasw) Fixed in 4.40.1
  • Fix · GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4 exifreader (npm) Fixed in 4.40.1 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53496
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4

References

  • TI-2026-58819 ExifReader: DoS via Crafted HEIC/AVIF iloc Box - Memory Exhaustion CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5

Sources