CVE-2026-33021
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.
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
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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libsixelDebian: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 less1:1.8.7-41:1.8.7-51:1.8.7-61:1.8.7-r2-1 |
None known |
libsixelDebian: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 |
libsixelDebian: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 |
libsixelUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.4.2-11.5.2-2 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.5.2-21.7.3-1 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.8.2-11.8.2-2.1 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.8.6-21.10.3-21.10.3-3 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.10.3-31.10.3-3build1 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.10.5-1 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.10.5-1build11:1.8.7-r2-1 |
None known |
libsixelUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.10.5-11.10.5-1build1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE 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
github.com/saitoha/libsixel/security/advisories/GHSA-j6m5-2cc7-3whc
github.com/saitoha/libsixel/releases/tag/v1.8.7-r1
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/33xxx/CVE-2026-33021.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33021
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-33021
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-33021
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33021