CVE-2020-35492Public exploit

Memory corruption via misdirected compositor mask writes

Published Mar 18, 2021 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Stack buffer overflow in Cairo before 1.17.4 allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory through crafted graphics input. _inplace_src_spans in cairo-image-compositor.c resets its mask pointer to the renderer's fixed temporary buffer rather than the Pixman mask image, so coverage-byte writes can run past that stack buffer. Exploitation requires an application to process attacker-controlled content or a user to open it; demonstrated behavior includes stack-smashing termination, while memory corruption can affect confidentiality and integrity.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack buffer overflow in Cairo before 1.17.4 allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory through crafted graphics input. _inplace_src_spans in cairo-image-compositor.c resets its mask pointer to the renderer's fixed temporary buffer rather than the Pixman mask image, so coverage-byte writes can run past that stack buffer. Exploitation requires an application to process attacker-controlled content or a user to open it; demonstrated behavior includes stack-smashing termination, while memory corruption can affect confidentiality and integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35492
Published
Mar 18, 2021
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Cairographics
Product
Cairo
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-121, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=All cairo versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Cairographics · Cairoversion=All cairo versions

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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