# CVE-2026-85715: ExifReader: DoS via Crafted HEIC/AVIF iloc Box - Memory Exhaustion

> Attackers can cause memory exhaustion and crash applications by providing crafted HEIC or AVIF images to the ExifReader library.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pj96-35fp-cfcc

## What is CVE-2026-85715?

CVE-2026-85715 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in mattiasw ExifReader, published on 17 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ExifReader is a JavaScript Exif information parser. Prior to 4.41.1, ExifReader parses attacker-controlled HEIC or AVIF ISO-BMFF files in getItems() within src/image-header-iso-bmff-iloc.js and trusts iloc itemCount and extentCount values while allocating an extent object for every nested-loop iteration. When offsetSize, lengthSize, baseOffsetSize, and indexSize are zero, the extent fields consume no input bytes and the buffer offset does not advance, but the parser can still allocate up to itemCount multiplied by extentCount objects without an allocation budget. A small malicious iloc box can therefore cause hundreds of megabytes of heap growth or exhaust system memory, terminating a Node.js process and denying service to web, desktop, or mobile applications that parse untrusted images. The zero field widths are valid ISO-BMFF values indicating absent fields, so the vulnerable parser must bound work rather than relying on offset advancement. The issue is fixed in version 4.41.1.

Weakness: CWE-835 (Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition), CWE-789 (Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-85715?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including exifreader.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `exifreader` | npm | All versions | 4.41.1 |
| `exifreader` | npm | All versions | 4.41.1 |

## How do I fix CVE-2026-85715?

Upgrade exifreader to 4.41.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-85715 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-85715 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-85715 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-85715 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in mattiasw ExifReader, published on 17 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-85715 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- exifreader (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.41.1
- exifreader (npm): affected all versions; fixed in 4.41.1

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-2026-85715/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85715/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-85715
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85715
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85715

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85715/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.