CVE-2020-35523

Code execution via TIFF integer overflow

Published Mar 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

LibTIFF before 4.2.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by opening a crafted TIFF image. The tif_getimage.c code performs an integer calculation that overflows while constructing image data, enabling a heap-based memory corruption path. Exploitation requires a user or application to open the malicious TIFF; the resulting process can lose confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.92%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

LibTIFF before 4.2.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by opening a crafted TIFF image. The tif_getimage.c code performs an integer calculation that overflows while constructing image data, enabling a heap-based memory corruption path. Exploitation requires a user or application to open the malicious TIFF; the resulting process can lose confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35523
Published
Mar 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
LibTIFF Project
Product
LibTIFF
Classifications
CWE-190, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record 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=libtiff 4.2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

LibTIFF Project · LibTIFFversion=libtiff 4.2.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS: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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-190Integer Overflow or Wraparound
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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