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CVE-2026-33021

libsixel: Use-after-free in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes()

7.3 HighFix available

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.25%Up 0.2 points since Apr 15, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.3

libsixel: Use-after-free in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes()

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
CVE-2026-33021
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-22746 7.3

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
EUVD-2026-22746
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 7.3

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
CVE-2026-33021
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.3

libsixel: Use-after-free in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes()

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
CVE-2026-33021
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-33021 7.3

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-33021
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-33021 7.3

libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. Versions 1.8.7 and prior contain a use-after-free vulnerability in sixel_encoder_encode_bytes() because sixel_frame_init() stores the caller-owned pixel buffer pointer directly in frame->pixels without making a defensive copy. When a resize operation is triggered, sixel_frame_convert_to_rgb888() unconditionally frees this caller-owned buffer and replaces it with a new internal allocation, leaving the caller with a dangling pointer. Any subsequent access to the original buffer by the caller constitutes a use-after-free, confirmed by AddressSanitizer. An attacker who controls incoming frames can trigger this bug repeatedly and predictably, resulting in a reliable crash with potential for code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-33021
CVSS 3.1
7.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
libsixel
Debian:12
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.3-31.10.5-11:1.8.7-11:1.8.7-21:1.8.7-3
Show 4 moreShow less
1:1.8.7-41:1.8.7-51:1.8.7-61:1.8.7-r2-1
None known
libsixel
Debian:13
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.5-11:1.8.7-11:1.8.7-21:1.8.7-31:1.8.7-41:1.8.7-51:1.8.7-61:1.8.7-r2-1
None known
libsixel
Debian:14
before 1:1.8.7-r2-1, plus listed versions
1.10.5-11:1.8.7-11:1.8.7-21:1.8.7-31:1.8.7-41:1.8.7-51:1.8.7-6
1:1.8.7-r2-1
libsixel
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.4.2-11.5.2-2
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.5.2-21.7.3-1
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.8.2-11.8.2-2.1
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.8.6-21.10.3-21.10.3-3
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.3-31.10.3-3build1
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:25.10
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.5-1
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.5-1build11:1.8.7-r2-1
None known
libsixel
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.10.5-11.10.5-1build1
None known

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-33021 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Saitoha Libsixel, published April 14, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.25%, the 16th percentile. Fixed in libsixel 1:1.8.7-r2-1.

References

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