CVE-2022-40090Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Application hang via undetected cyclic IFD chain

Published Aug 22, 2023 · Updated Oct 3, 2024

Infinite loop in TIFFReadDirectory in libtiff before 4.4.0 allows attackers to hang applications that process crafted TIFF files. The directory-chain check tracks offsets without their associated IFD numbers, and TIFFAdvanceDirectory does not apply that check, allowing cyclic IFD links to evade detection. Processing an attacker-supplied TIFF is required, and the resulting loop consumes processing indefinitely without exposing or modifying data.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite loop in TIFFReadDirectory in libtiff before 4.4.0 allows attackers to hang applications that process crafted TIFF files. The directory-chain check tracks offsets without their associated IFD numbers, and TIFFAdvanceDirectory does not apply that check, allowing cyclic IFD links to evade detection. Processing an attacker-supplied TIFF is required, and the resulting loop consumes processing indefinitely without exposing or modifying data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-40090
Published
Aug 22, 2023
Updated
Oct 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 3, 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?

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

6.5NIST NVDCVSS: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-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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