CVE-2026-68514: academysoftwarefoundation openexr Heap-based Buffer Overflow

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-68514 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in academysoftwarefoundation openexr. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 7.5% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 25-08-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 26-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image file format, widely used in the motion picture industry. In versions 3.3.0 through 3.3.12 and 3.4.0 through 3.4.13, the PyOpenEXR Python bindings contain a heap out-of-bounds write triggered when reading a crafted deep scanline EXR file. When a deep file declares a literal channel named left alongside layer-prefixed RGB channels left.R, left.G, and left.B, the wrapper processes the literal left channel first and allocates a scalar deep sample array for it, then reuses that same array as the coalesced destination for the prefixed RGB group. The deep reader registers sample slices with an RGB stride (three lanes) into storage that was allocated with scalar shape, so decoding the deep samples writes past the allocation. Opening such a file through the default public Python API, OpenEXR.File(path), causes a heap buffer overflow during normal deep sample decode, leading to memory corruption and a crash. This issue is fixed in versions 3.3.13 and 3.4.14.

• CWE-122Heap-based Buffer OverflowA heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().
• CWE-787Out-of-bounds WriteThe product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.