ExifReader: DoS via Crafted HEIC/AVIF iloc Box - Memory Exhaustion
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-789.
Summary
ExifReader is a JavaScript Exif information parser. Prior to 4.41.1, ExifReader parses attacker-controlled HEIC or AVIF ISO-BMFF files in getItems() within src/image-header-iso-bmff-iloc.js and trusts iloc itemCount and extentCount values while allocating an extent object for every nested-loop iteration. When offsetSize, lengthSize, baseOffsetSize, and indexSize are zero, the extent fields consume no input bytes and the buffer offset does not advance, but the parser can still allocate up to itemCount multiplied by extentCount objects without an allocation budget. A small malicious iloc box can therefore cause hundreds of megabytes of heap growth or exhaust system memory, terminating a Node.js process and denying service to web, desktop, or mobile applications that parse untrusted images. The zero field widths are valid ISO-BMFF values indicating absent fields, so the vulnerable parser must bound work rather than relying on offset advancement. The issue is fixed in version 4.41.1.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mattiasw | ExifReader | before 4.41.1 | 4.41.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | exifreader (npm) | before 4.41.1 | 4.41.1 | Patch available | GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc |
- ExifReader Vendormattiasw Affected before 4.41.1 Fixed in 4.41.1 Patch available CNA
- exifreader (npm) Vendor— Affected before 4.41.1 Fixed in 4.41.1 Patch available GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc
Remediation
- Fix · CNA ExifReader (mattiasw) Fixed in 4.41.1
- Fix · GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc exifreader (npm) Fixed in 4.41.1 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-85715
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc
References
More mattiasw vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-38572 ExifReader HEIC/AVIF ISO-BMFF parser throws uncaught RangeError on truncated boxes CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-85715 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-85715 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences