CVE-2026-53532
OpenEXR: Unhandled assert abort in HTJ2K decoder via crafted QCD marker (DoS)
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Passive
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.1
OpenEXR: Unhandled assert abort in HTJ2K decoder via crafted QCD marker (DoS)
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
CVE-2026-53532- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-617
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-65179
7.1
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
EUVD-2026-65179- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.1
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
CVE-2026-53532- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/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 - Weakness
- CWE-617
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.1
OpenEXR: Unhandled assert abort in HTJ2K decoder via crafted QCD marker (DoS)
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
CVE-2026-53532- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-617
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-53532
7.1
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53532- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/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 - Updated
- 2026-11-07
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53532
7.1
OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, a crafted HTJ2K-compressed EXR file causes an unconditional process abort in any application that calls exr_start_read() on untrusted input, resulting in denial of service. The crash is triggered by a QCD marker whose lower five bits are zero, which OpenEXR passes into the vendored OpenJPH library while constructing the codestream and evaluating its quantization delta parameters. OpenJPH uses an assertion rather than a recoverable error to validate those bits, so any invalid value calls abort() directly and cannot be intercepted by surrounding error handling, a problem compounded by OpenEXR wrapping only its internal HT header parser in error handling while leaving the later codestream read and construction calls unprotected. This issue has been resolved in version 3.4.13.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53532- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:11218-1 No score
libIex-3_4-33-3.4.13-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libIex-3_4-33-3.4.13-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:11218-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-53532 No score
CVE-2026-53532 in openexr - Patched by Root
Root has patched CVE-2026-53532 in the openexr package for Root:Debian:11. Multiple fixed versions available.
- Record
ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-53532- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-53532 No score
CVE-2026-53532 in openexr - Patched by Root
Root has patched CVE-2026-53532 in the openexr package for Root:Debian:12. Multiple fixed versions available.
- Record
ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-53532- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2026-53532 No score
CVE-2026-53532 in openexr - Patched by Root
Root has patched CVE-2026-53532 in the openexr package for Root:Debian:13. Multiple fixed versions available.
- Record
ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2026-53532- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openexrAlpaquita:stream |
3.4.4-r0 up to 3.4.13-r0 | 3.4.13-r0 |
openexrDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.13-13.1.13-23.1.5-53.1.5-5.13.1.5-5.1+hurd.1 Show 8 moreShow less3.4.14-0.13.4.15+ds-13.4.16+ds-13.4.6+ds-13.4.6+ds-23.4.6+ds-33.4.6+ds-43.5.2+ds-1 |
None known |
openexrDebian:14 |
before 3.4.14-0.1, plus listed versions 3.1.13-23.4.6+ds-13.4.6+ds-23.4.6+ds-33.4.6+ds-4 |
3.4.14-0.1 |
openexrRoot:Debian:11 |
before 2.5.4-2+deb11u1.aikido.18 | 2.5.4-2+deb11u1.aikido.18 |
rootio-openexrRoot:Debian:11 |
before 2.5.4-2+deb11u1.aikido.18 | 2.5.4-2+deb11u1.aikido.18 |
openexrRoot:Debian:12 |
before 3.1.5-5.aikido.25 | 3.1.5-5.aikido.25 |
rootio-openexrRoot:Debian:12 |
before 3.1.5-5.aikido.25 | 3.1.5-5.aikido.25 |
openexrRoot:Debian:13 |
before 3.1.13-2.aikido.15 | 3.1.13-2.aikido.15 |
rootio-openexrRoot:Debian:13 |
before 3.1.13-2.aikido.15 | 3.1.13-2.aikido.15 |
openexrUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.2.0-1ubuntu32.2.0-7ubuntu12.2.0-9ubuntu12.2.0-10ubuntu22.2.0-10ubuntu2.1 Show 8 moreShow less2.2.0-10ubuntu2.22.2.0-10ubuntu2.32.2.0-10ubuntu2.42.2.0-10ubuntu2.62.2.0-10ubuntu2.6+esm12.2.0-10ubuntu2.6+esm22.2.0-10ubuntu2.6+esm32.2.0-10ubuntu2.6+esm4 |
None known |
Show 7 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openexrUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.2.0-11ubuntu12.2.0-11.1ubuntu12.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.12.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.22.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.3 Show 6 moreShow less2.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.42.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.62.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.72.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.82.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.92.2.0-11.1ubuntu1.9+esm1 |
None known |
openexrUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.2.1-4.1ubuntu12.3.0-62.3.0-6build12.3.0-6ubuntu0.12.3.0-6ubuntu0.2 Show 4 moreShow less2.3.0-6ubuntu0.32.3.0-6ubuntu0.52.3.0-6ubuntu0.5+esm12.3.0-6ubuntu0.5+esm2 |
None known |
openexrUbuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.5.4-22.5.7-12.5.7-1ubuntu0.1~esm12.5.7-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
None known |
openexrUbuntu:Pro:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.5-5.13.1.5-5.1build13.1.5-5.1build23.1.5-5.1build33.1.5-5.1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
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 5 CVEs |
before 3.4.13-1.1 | 3.4.13-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | OSV | |
| affected, facts | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-53532 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) in Academysoftwarefoundation Openexr, published July 8, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.45%, the 38th percentile. Fixed in openexr 3.4.13-r0.
References
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/security/advisories/GHSA-2f85-52wj-hc3c
github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/releases/tag/v3.4.13
docs.bell-sw.com/security/cves/CVE-2026-53532
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/53xxx/CVE-2026-53532.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53532
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-53532
Show 11 moreShow less
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53532
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53532
github.com/academysoftwarefoundation/openexr/releases/tag/v3.4.13
github.com/academysoftwarefoundation/openexr/security/advisories/ghsa-2f85-52wj-hc3c
github.com/cveproject/cvelistv5/tree/main/cves/2026/53xxx/cve-2026-53532.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-53532
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53532
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-54920
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-55059
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-55371
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-55373