Out-of-Bounds Read in libheif (CVE-2025-68431)
Summary
Vulnerability in libheif (CVE-2025-68431). Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure. Exploitable via size_t.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
libheif is an HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder. Prior to version 1.21.0, a crafted HEIF that exercises the overlay image item path triggers a heap buffer over-read in HeifPixelImage::overlay(). The function computes a negative row length (likely from an unclipped overlay rectangle or invalid offsets), which then underflows when converted to size_t and is passed to memcpy, causing a very large read past the end of the source plane and a crash. Version 1.21.0 contains a patch. As a workaround, avoid decoding images using iovl overlay boxes.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-68431 has been found in libheif.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like size_t over the network to misuse the product.
Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure. CVSS score: 6.5/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "libheif CVE-2025-68431" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2025-68431 (libheif) — CWE-125 / CVSS v3 6.5
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated
Attack surface: size_t / memcpy / iovl
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) exists in libheif. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via size_t without authentication.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of libheif. Attack surface: size_t / memcpy / iovl.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.5/10). Risk of unauthorized operations or information disclosure.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'libheif' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'libheif' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
libheifを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Alpine Linux ALPINE-CVE-2025-68431 libheif Fixed in: 1.21.2-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2025-68431 libheif
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2025-68431 libheif Fixed in: 1.1.0-2ubuntu0.1~esm2