LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2026-23868: Giflib contains a double-free vulnerability that is the result of a shallow copy in GifMakeSavedImage and i...

Giflib contains a double-free vulnerability that is the result of a shallow copy in GifMakeSavedImage and incorrect error handling. The conditions needed to trigger this vulnerability are difficult but may be possible.

HighCVSS 7Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-23868 is a high-severity memory safety flaw in giflib. A specially handled GIF processing path could cause a double-free, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The sources say triggering it is difficult but possible.

Executive priority

Treat as a normal high-priority patching item for systems that process untrusted images. It does not currently have KEV-backed exploitation evidence, but memory corruption in a common image library warrants timely remediation.

Technical view

giflib 5.0.0 is affected by a double-free caused by a shallow copy in GifMakeSavedImage and incorrect error handling. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.0 with local attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where giflib 5.0.0, or downstream packages containing it, processes untrusted GIF files. Red Hat references and errata indicate downstream tracking, but the bundle does not enumerate every affected platform or package version.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle marks KEV as false and gives no cited evidence of active exploitation. The stated attack conditions are difficult, and the CVSS vector requires local context and user interaction.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on the GifMakeSavedImage shallow-copy path and downstream error handling. Avoid assuming remote exploitability from the CVSS vector; the provided score is local, high-complexity, and user-assisted.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor advisories for giflib package status and fixed versions.
  • Apply relevant Red Hat security updates where affected packages are installed.
  • Update bundled or statically linked giflib copies in applications.
  • Limit processing of untrusted GIF files until vendor guidance is applied.
  • Track upstream giflib and distribution advisories for corrected releases.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems and applications using giflib 5.0.0.
  • Check OS package advisories against installed giflib package versions.
  • Review software bills of materials for bundled giflib copies.
  • Confirm Red Hat errata applicability for subscribed systems.
  • Retest GIF-processing workflows after updates are applied.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-415: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-825: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-23868 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
28Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9redhat-SADP
5.1CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.43.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-23868Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
redhat-SADPgiflib: Giflib: Double-free vulnerability leading to memory corruption
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-03-10T20:01:10.215Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-03-10T18:53:25.606Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
giflibgiflib5.0.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-415CWE-825

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-415 · source CWE mapping

Double Free

Double Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs
CWE-825 · source CWE mapping

Expired Pointer Dereference

Expired Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs