CVE-2020-35538

Denial of service via merged upsampling NULL pointer

Published Aug 31, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A null pointer dereference in libjpeg-turbo 2.0.5 allows local users to crash image processing via a crafted JPEG input file. The jpeg_skip_scanlines() routine assumes a non-merged upsampler layout; merged upsampling can overwrite an IDCT pointer or pass NULL to jcopy_sample_rows(). User interaction is required to process the file, and the bounded consequence is a service crash without disclosed confidentiality or integrity impact.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A null pointer dereference in libjpeg-turbo 2.0.5 allows local users to crash image processing via a crafted JPEG input file. The jpeg_skip_scanlines() routine assumes a non-merged upsampler layout; merged upsampling can overwrite an IDCT pointer or pass NULL to jcopy_sample_rows(). User interaction is required to process the file, and the bounded consequence is a service crash without disclosed confidentiality or integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35538
Published
Aug 31, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The libjpeg-turbo Project
Product
libjpeg-turbo
Classifications
CWE-476, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 31, 2022CVE 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=libjpeg-turbo 2.0.5 onwards

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The libjpeg-turbo Project · libjpeg-turboversion=libjpeg-turbo 2.0.5 onwards

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
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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