libheif 1.19.0-1.23.1 Unbounded Memory Decompressor (fixed in 1.23.2)
CVE-2026-84384 Published on September 18, 2026
libheif: brotli/zlib decompression paths lack output-size limits, allowing decompression-bomb OOM/DoS
libheif is a HEIF and AVIF file format decoder and encoder. From 1.19.0 until 1.23.2, crafted HEIF or AVIF mime metadata and unci image data can cause decompress_brotli() and do_inflate() to grow accumulated output without an effective size limit or MemoryHandle accounting. The brotli path has no output bound, while the zlib path checks only a small temporary buffer in a branch that valid streams do not reach, and overlapping icef units can decompress the same payload repeatedly. HeifContext::interpret_heif_file_images() processes multiple compressed metadata items during file opening, allowing a small file to consume unbounded memory and terminate the process. This issue is fixed in version 1.23.2.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-84384 is exploitable with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. An automatable proof of concept (POC) exploit exists. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have no impact on confidentiality and integrity, and a high impact on availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Data Amplification Vulnerability?
The software does not handle or incorrectly handles a compressed input with a very high compression ratio that produces a large output. An example of data amplification is a "decompression bomb," a small ZIP file that can produce a large amount of data when it is decompressed.
CVE-2026-84384 has been classified to as a Data Amplification vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-84384
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