CVE-2020-22524Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Application crash via PFM buffer overflow

Published Aug 22, 2023 · Updated May 5, 2025

Buffer overflow in FreeImage 3.19.0 allows remote attackers to crash applications that load a crafted PFM image through FreeImage_Load. The PFM plug-in Load routine performs an out-of-bounds write while decoding the malformed image, but the upstream report does not identify the unchecked field or exact write operation. Exploitation requires a user or automated system to process the file, and the established consequence is an application crash.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in FreeImage 3.19.0 allows remote attackers to crash applications that load a crafted PFM image through FreeImage_Load. The PFM plug-in Load routine performs an out-of-bounds write while decoding the malformed image, but the upstream report does not identify the unchecked field or exact write operation. Exploitation requires a user or automated system to process the file, and the established consequence is an application crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-22524
Published
Aug 22, 2023
Updated
May 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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