Exiv2 OOB Read in Preview (-pp) fixed in 0.28.8
CVE-2026-27596 Published on March 2, 2026
Exiv2: Integer Underflow in LoaderNative::getData() Causes Heap Buffer Overflow
Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC image metadata. Prior to version 0.28.8, an out-of-bounds read was found in Exiv2. The vulnerability is in the preview component, which is only triggered when running Exiv2 with an extra command line argument, like -pp. The out-of-bounds read is at a 4GB offset, which usually causes Exiv2 to crash. This issue has been patched in version 0.28.8.
Weakness Types
Out-of-bounds Read
The software reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. Typically, this can allow attackers to read sensitive information from other memory locations or cause a crash. A crash can occur when the code reads a variable amount of data and assumes that a sentinel exists to stop the read operation, such as a NUL in a string. The expected sentinel might not be located in the out-of-bounds memory, causing excessive data to be read, leading to a segmentation fault or a buffer overflow. The software may modify an index or perform pointer arithmetic that references a memory location that is outside of the boundaries of the buffer. A subsequent read operation then produces undefined or unexpected results.
What is an Integer underflow Vulnerability?
The product subtracts one value from another, such that the result is less than the minimum allowable integer value, which produces a value that is not equal to the correct result. This can happen in signed and unsigned cases.
CVE-2026-27596 has been classified to as an Integer underflow vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-27596
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Affected Versions
exiv2 Version < 0.28.8 is affected by CVE-2026-27596Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.