Out-of-bounds read and write in libass wrap_lines_measure
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- High
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
libass versions before 0.17.5 are affected. Rendering malicious ASS subtitle content can overread and overwrite the glyph array in wrap_lines_measure, an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787). A user must process crafted subtitle content to trigger it. No exploitation beyond possible denial of service is known.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
libass is a portable subtitle renderer for the `ASS`/SSA (Advanced Substation Alpha/Substation Alpha) subtitle format. Prior to 0.17.5, libass can overread and overwrite the glyph array in `wrap_lines_measure` while rendering malicious `ASS` content. In `wrap modes other than two`, a final line ending with a literal backslash-n sequence and otherwise consisting only of such sequences or spaces can remain after early trimming and make the line-measurement loops overshoot by one glyph. When the total text size exactly matches the allocated glyph-array capacity, the first loop reads an uninitialized 32-bit fixed-point `pos.x` value, although that value is not subsequently used. The second loop writes `pos.x` and `pos.y` beyond the array, zeroing the first and adding an attacker-controllable offset to the second. No actual exploitation beyond possible denial of service is known; broader exploitation is theoretical and constrained by the addresses, limited writes, and ASLR. This issue is fixed in version 0.17.5.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
Remediation
Upgrade libass to version 0.17.5, which fixes this issue.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA libass (libass) Fixed in 0.17.5
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-30 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-61627
- 2026-10-30 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-30 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
More libass vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-83144 Out-of-bounds bit clears in libass via negative Matroska ReadOrder CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-61627 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-61627 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-61627 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences