CVE-2025-48072
OpenEXR's Inaccurate Pointer Arithmetic can Cause an Out of Bounds Heap
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Active
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
6.8
OpenEXR's Inaccurate Pointer Arithmetic can Cause an Out of Bounds Heap
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
CVE-2025-48072- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2025-23315
6.8
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
EUVD-2025-23315- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43
6.8
OpenEXR Out of Bounds Heap Read due to Bad Pointer Arithmetic in LossyDctDecoder_execute
Summary
The OpenEXRCore code is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk.
Details
In the LossyDctDecoder_execute function (from src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h, when SSE2 is enabled), the following code is used to copy data from the chunks:
// no-op conversion to linear
for (int y = 8 * blocky; y < 8 * blocky + maxY; ++y)
{
__m128i* restrict dst = (__m128i *) chanData[comp]->_rows[y];
__m128i const * restrict src = (__m128i const *)&rowBlock[comp][(y & 0x7) * 8];
for (int blockx = 0; blockx < numFullBlocksX; ++blockx)
{
_mm_storeu_si128 (dst, _mm_loadu_si128 (src)); //
src += 8 * 8; // <--- si128 pointer incremented as a uint16_t
dst += 8;
}
}
The issue arises because the src pointer, which is a si128 pointer, is incremented by 8*8, as if it were a uint16_t pointer (64 * uint16_t == 128 bytes). In non-block aligned chunks (width/height not a multiple of 8), this can cause src to point past the boundaries of the chunk.
PoC
In order to reproduce the PoC with fidelity and avoid undefined behaviors, it is necessary to enable ASAN (and SSE2). Otherwise the out-of-bound read will not be detected until its side-effect causes a crash.
NOTE: please download the dwadecoder_crash.exr file from the following link:
https://github.com/ShielderSec/poc/tree/main/CVE-2025-48072
- Compile the
exrcheckbinary in a macOS or GNU/Linux machine with ASAN. - Open the
dwadecoder_crash.exrfile with the following command:
exrcheck dwadecoder_crash.exr
- Notice that
exrcheckcrashes with ASAN stack-trace.
==2297956==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: heap-buffer-overflow on address 0x52500000a110 at pc 0x55e590db7bf1 bp 0x7fff948bb110 sp 0x7fff948bb108
READ of size 16 at 0x52500000a110 thread T0
#0 0x55e590db7bf0 in LossyDctDecoder_execute /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h:650:48
#1 0x55e590dae18d in DwaCompressor_uncompress /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_compressor.h:1132:30
#2 0x55e590da9960 in internal_exr_undo_dwaa /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa.c:202:18
#3 0x55e590d42d03 in exr_uncompress_chunk /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/compression.c:516:14
#4 0x55e590dc3132 in exr_decoding_run /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/decoding.c:580:14
#5 0x55e590c7d78f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::ScanLineProcess::run_decode(_priv_exr_context_t const*, int, Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const*, int, int, std::vector<Imf_3_4::Slice, std::allocator<Imf_3_4::Slice>> const&) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:585:23
#6 0x55e590c83ed7 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::Data::readPixels(Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const&, int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:499:21
#7 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:306:12
#8 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::InputFile::Data::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:446:20
#9 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputFile::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:228:12
#10 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputPart::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputPart.cpp:70:11
#11 0x55e590c1f92f in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readScanline<Imf_3_4::InputPart>(Imf_3_4::InputPart&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:239:20
#12 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readMultiPart(Imf_3_4::MultiPartInputFile&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:879:28
#13 0x55e590c155af in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::runChecks<char const*>(char const*&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:1132:21
#14 0x55e590c155af in…
- Record
GHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
6.8
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
CVE-2025-48072- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 9.1 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2025-48072
9.1
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
ALPINE-CVE-2025-48072- CVSS 3.1
- 9.1 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
OSV
6.8
OpenEXR's Inaccurate Pointer Arithmetic can Cause an Out of Bounds Heap
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
CVE-2025-48072- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43
6.8
OpenEXR Out of Bounds Heap Read due to Bad Pointer Arithmetic in LossyDctDecoder_execute
Summary
The OpenEXRCore code is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk.
Details
In the LossyDctDecoder_execute function (from src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h, when SSE2 is enabled), the following code is used to copy data from the chunks:
// no-op conversion to linear
for (int y = 8 * blocky; y < 8 * blocky + maxY; ++y)
{
__m128i* restrict dst = (__m128i *) chanData[comp]->_rows[y];
__m128i const * restrict src = (__m128i const *)&rowBlock[comp][(y & 0x7) * 8];
for (int blockx = 0; blockx < numFullBlocksX; ++blockx)
{
_mm_storeu_si128 (dst, _mm_loadu_si128 (src)); //
src += 8 * 8; // <--- si128 pointer incremented as a uint16_t
dst += 8;
}
}
The issue arises because the src pointer, which is a si128 pointer, is incremented by 8*8, as if it were a uint16_t pointer (64 * uint16_t == 128 bytes). In non-block aligned chunks (width/height not a multiple of 8), this can cause src to point past the boundaries of the chunk.
PoC
In order to reproduce the PoC with fidelity and avoid undefined behaviors, it is necessary to enable ASAN (and SSE2). Otherwise the out-of-bound read will not be detected until its side-effect causes a crash.
NOTE: please download the dwadecoder_crash.exr file from the following link:
https://github.com/ShielderSec/poc/tree/main/CVE-2025-48072
- Compile the
exrcheckbinary in a macOS or GNU/Linux machine with ASAN. - Open the
dwadecoder_crash.exrfile with the following command:
exrcheck dwadecoder_crash.exr
- Notice that
exrcheckcrashes with ASAN stack-trace.
==2297956==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: heap-buffer-overflow on address 0x52500000a110 at pc 0x55e590db7bf1 bp 0x7fff948bb110 sp 0x7fff948bb108
READ of size 16 at 0x52500000a110 thread T0
#0 0x55e590db7bf0 in LossyDctDecoder_execute /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h:650:48
#1 0x55e590dae18d in DwaCompressor_uncompress /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_compressor.h:1132:30
#2 0x55e590da9960 in internal_exr_undo_dwaa /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa.c:202:18
#3 0x55e590d42d03 in exr_uncompress_chunk /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/compression.c:516:14
#4 0x55e590dc3132 in exr_decoding_run /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/decoding.c:580:14
#5 0x55e590c7d78f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::ScanLineProcess::run_decode(_priv_exr_context_t const*, int, Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const*, int, int, std::vector<Imf_3_4::Slice, std::allocator<Imf_3_4::Slice>> const&) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:585:23
#6 0x55e590c83ed7 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::Data::readPixels(Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const&, int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:499:21
#7 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:306:12
#8 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::InputFile::Data::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:446:20
#9 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputFile::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:228:12
#10 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputPart::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputPart.cpp:70:11
#11 0x55e590c1f92f in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readScanline<Imf_3_4::InputPart>(Imf_3_4::InputPart&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:239:20
#12 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readMultiPart(Imf_3_4::MultiPartInputFile&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:879:28
#13 0x55e590c155af in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::runChecks<char const*>(char const*&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:1132:21
#14 0x55e590c155af in…
- Record
GHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-1746
6.8
OpenEXR Out of Bounds Heap Read due to Bad Pointer Arithmetic in LossyDctDecoder_execute
Summary
The OpenEXRCore code is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk.
Details
In the LossyDctDecoder_execute function (from src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h, when SSE2 is enabled), the following code is used to copy data from the chunks:
// no-op conversion to linear
for (int y = 8 * blocky; y < 8 * blocky + maxY; ++y)
{
__m128i* restrict dst = (__m128i *) chanData[comp]->_rows[y];
__m128i const * restrict src = (__m128i const *)&rowBlock[comp][(y & 0x7) * 8];
for (int blockx = 0; blockx < numFullBlocksX; ++blockx)
{
_mm_storeu_si128 (dst, _mm_loadu_si128 (src)); //
src += 8 * 8; // <--- si128 pointer incremented as a uint16_t
dst += 8;
}
}
The issue arises because the src pointer, which is a si128 pointer, is incremented by 8*8, as if it were a uint16_t pointer (64 * uint16_t == 128 bytes). In non-block aligned chunks (width/height not a multiple of 8), this can cause src to point past the boundaries of the chunk.
PoC
In order to reproduce the PoC with fidelity and avoid undefined behaviors, it is necessary to enable ASAN (and SSE2). Otherwise the out-of-bound read will not be detected until its side-effect causes a crash.
NOTE: please download the dwadecoder_crash.exr file from the following link:
https://github.com/ShielderSec/poc/tree/main/CVE-2025-48072
- Compile the
exrcheckbinary in a macOS or GNU/Linux machine with ASAN. - Open the
dwadecoder_crash.exrfile with the following command:
exrcheck dwadecoder_crash.exr
- Notice that
exrcheckcrashes with ASAN stack-trace.
==2297956==ERROR: AddressSanitizer: heap-buffer-overflow on address 0x52500000a110 at pc 0x55e590db7bf1 bp 0x7fff948bb110 sp 0x7fff948bb108
READ of size 16 at 0x52500000a110 thread T0
#0 0x55e590db7bf0 in LossyDctDecoder_execute /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_decoder.h:650:48
#1 0x55e590dae18d in DwaCompressor_uncompress /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa_compressor.h:1132:30
#2 0x55e590da9960 in internal_exr_undo_dwaa /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/internal_dwa.c:202:18
#3 0x55e590d42d03 in exr_uncompress_chunk /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/compression.c:516:14
#4 0x55e590dc3132 in exr_decoding_run /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRCore/decoding.c:580:14
#5 0x55e590c7d78f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::ScanLineProcess::run_decode(_priv_exr_context_t const*, int, Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const*, int, int, std::vector<Imf_3_4::Slice, std::allocator<Imf_3_4::Slice>> const&) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:585:23
#6 0x55e590c83ed7 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::Data::readPixels(Imf_3_4::FrameBuffer const&, int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:499:21
#7 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::ScanLineInputFile::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfScanLineInputFile.cpp:306:12
#8 0x55e590c73c97 in Imf_3_4::InputFile::Data::readPixels(int, int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:446:20
#9 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputFile::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputFile.cpp:228:12
#10 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::InputPart::readPixels(int) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXR/ImfInputPart.cpp:70:11
#11 0x55e590c1f92f in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readScanline<Imf_3_4::InputPart>(Imf_3_4::InputPart&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:239:20
#12 0x55e590c1f92f in Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::readMultiPart(Imf_3_4::MultiPartInputFile&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:879:28
#13 0x55e590c155af in bool Imf_3_4::(anonymous namespace)::runChecks<char const*>(char const*&, bool, bool) /root/openexr/src/lib/OpenEXRUtil/ImfCheckFile.cpp:1132:21
#14 0x55e590c155af in…
- Record
PYSEC-2026-1746- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2025-48072
6.8
OpenEXR provides the specification and reference implementation of the EXR file format, an image storage format for the motion picture industry. Version 3.3.2 is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow during a read operation due to bad pointer math when decompressing DWAA-packed scan-line EXR files with a maliciously forged chunk. This is fixed in version 3.3.3.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2025-48072- CVSS 4.0
- 6.8 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.1 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:15415-1 No score
libIex-3_3-32-3.3.5-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libIex-3_3-32-3.3.5-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:15415-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openexrPyPI |
3.3.2 to 3.3.2 | 3.3.3 |
openexrAlpine:v3.22 |
before 3.3.11-r0 | 3.3.11-r0 |
openexrAlpine:v3.23 |
before 3.4.2-r0 | 3.4.2-r0 |
openexrAlpine:v3.24 |
before 3.4.2-r0 | 3.4.2-r0 |
openexrPyPI |
3.3.2 up to 3.3.3 | 3.3.3 |
openexrUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.13-2 |
None known |
openexrUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.13-2build13.4.6+ds-4ubuntu3 |
None known |
openexrUbuntu:Pro:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.13-23.1.13-2build13.1.13-2ubuntu0.26.04.1~esm1 |
None known |
openexropenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 3.3.5-1.1 | 3.3.5-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| affected, aliases, references | OSV | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-48072 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.8) in Academysoftwarefoundation Openexr, published July 31, 2025. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.58%, the 47th percentile. Fixed in openexr 3.3.3.
References
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/security/advisories/GHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/2d09449427b13a05f7c31a98ab2c4347c23db361
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/releases/tag/v3.3.3
github.com/ShielderSec/poc/tree/main/CVE-2025-48072
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48072
github.com/advisories/GHSA-4r7w-q3jg-ff43
Show 10 moreShow less
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2025-48072
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/48xxx/CVE-2025-48072.json
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr
pypi.org/project/openexr
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2025-48072
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-48072
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-48071
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-48072
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-48073
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-48074
Left out here: the rest of 3 source descriptions. The JSON record has them.