# CVE-2026-68514: OpenEXR: Heap buffer overflow in PyOpenEXR from literal/prefixed RGB channel name collision in deep images

> A heap buffer overflow in PyOpenEXR allows attackers to cause memory corruption and crashes via crafted deep EXR files, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 26 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-68514, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-68514, GHSA-mw28-66qc-c883, MINI-646m-m46x-4cjh, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-68514

## What is CVE-2026-68514?

CVE-2026-68514 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in AcademySoftwareFoundation openexr, published on 25 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-68514?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-68514?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-68514 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-68514 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-68514 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-68514 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in AcademySoftwareFoundation openexr, published on 25 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-68514 exists.

Affected product: AcademySoftwareFoundation openexr. 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-2026-68514/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68514/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-68514
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68514
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68514

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68514/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.