CVE-2019-11041: heap-buffer-overflow on exif_scan_thumbnail in EXIF extension

Security readout for executives and security teams

This is a PHP EXIF parsing flaw where specially crafted image metadata can make PHP read beyond allocated memory. The likely business impact is service instability or limited information disclosure in systems that parse uploaded or untrusted images with affected PHP versions. Exposure is most likely on web applications using affected PHP releases with the EXIF extension enabled and processing user-supplied images. Image upload, profile photo, document intake, media library, and metadata extraction workflows are the most relevant areas to review. Treat this as a targeted remediation item, not a crisis. Prioritize externally reachable image-processing services and unsupported PHP branches. The impact is meaningful but limited by high attack complexity and no source evidence of active exploitation. Mitigation focus: Upgrade PHP to 7.1.31, 7.2.21, 7.3.8, or later supported releases.; Apply relevant distribution security updates from Debian, Ubuntu, openSUSE, or your vendor.; Disable the PHP EXIF extension where image metadata parsing is not required..

Prepared

Jun 1, 2026, 12:34 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.