# CVE-2025-15538: Open Asset Import Library Assimp LWOMaterial.cpp FindUVChannels use after free

> A use-after-free flaw in Assimp's LWO importer allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted files.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Jan 2026
- **Updated:** 23 Feb 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2025-15538, GHSA-xm92-8fcx-x654, JLSEC-2026-189, UBUNTU-CVE-2025-15538

## What is CVE-2025-15538?

CVE-2025-15538 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Open Asset Import Library Assimp, published on 18 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A security vulnerability has been detected in Open Asset Import Library Assimp up to 6.0.2. Affected by this vulnerability is the function Assimp::LWOImporter::FindUVChannels of the file /src/assimp/code/AssetLib/LWO/LWOMaterial.cpp. Such manipulation leads to use after free. The attack needs to be performed locally. The exploit has been disclosed publicly and may be used. This and similar defects are tracked and handled via issue #6128.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free), CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-15538?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Assimp Assimp.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-15538?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2025-15538 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-15538 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Open Asset Import Library Assimp

- [CVE-2022-45748](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45748/): Use after free in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-48423](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-48423/): Use after free in n/a (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2024-45679](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45679/): Memory corruption in Assimp (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2024-40724](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-40724/): Memory corruption in Assimp (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2022-38528](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38528/): Null dereference in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-15538 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-15538 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Open Asset Import Library Assimp, published on 18 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-15538 exists.

Affected product: Open Asset Import Library Assimp. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15538/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15538/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-15538
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15538
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-15538

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15538/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.