CVE-2020-37239: gegl libbabl Double Free
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2020-37239 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Double Free vulnerability in gegl libbabl. EPSS estimates a 0.46% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 38.4% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Timeline
- 16-05-2026PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 18-05-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
libbabl 0.1.62 contains a broken double free detection vulnerability that allows attackers to bypass memory safety checks by exploiting signature overwriting in freed chunks. Attackers can call babl_free() twice on the same pointer without triggering detection, as libc's malloc metadata overwrites babl's signature field upon freeing, enabling potential memory corruption and code execution.
CVSS metrics
6 scores · 3 sources · 2 versions- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated9.3CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- NVDNIST9.3CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/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
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- NVDNIST9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.46%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
38%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 0.46% on 20-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
1 foundlibbabl 0.1.62 - Broken Double Free Detection (PoC)
Maturity: poc
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Gegl1 product
- libbabl0.1.62
Ubuntu1 product
- bablAll versions (No fix recorded)
2 vendors · 2 products
References
6 links- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/libbabl-broken-double-free-detection-memory-safetyThird Party AdvisoryREPORT