ExifReader HEIC/AVIF ISO-BMFF parser throws uncaught RangeError on truncated boxes

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

5.3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

EPSS

• CVE-2026-53496: 0.51% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 43.31 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary ExifReader 4.40.0 can throw an uncaught RangeError: Offset is outside the bounds of the DataView while parsing crafted HEIC/AVIF files. The file only needs a valid leading ftyp box with a HEIC/AVIF major brand followed by a malformed ISO-BMFF box, such as an empty 8-byte free box or a truncated extended-size box. This is reachable through the public ExifReader.load() API for in-memory buffers and through the async file/URL loaders when an application parses attacker-supplied images. In applications that do not wrap every parse in a defensive try/catch, a single uploaded or fetched image can abort the request/worker and cause a denial of service. Credit requested: Yaohui Wang. Affected version tested - npm package: exifreader - Version: 4.40.0 - Repository commit tested: 8cb0261a26b7d986955fe0a6780f076dcb7902e7 Root cause The ISO-BMFF parser assumes that every top-level box with at least an 8-byte header also has enough bytes for the fields required by its parsed form. In…

Published by the source

17 Jul 2026, 20:19 UTC

Last modified by the source

17 Jul 2026, 20:41 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:57 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4

2. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-53496

Advisory: ExifReader HEIC/AVIF ISO-BMFF parser throws uncaught RangeError on truncated boxes
IDs: CVE-2026-53496, GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-53496 (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:57 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 5.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: exifreader 4.40.1. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm exifreader: affected <= 4.40.0; fixed in 4.40.1

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls exifreader --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on exifreader.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4 (OSV record GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4 lists affected ranges: npm exifreader >=0 <4.40.1 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-g77h-45rf-hcx4 lists affected ranges: npm exifreader >=0 <=4.40.0)

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