Remote code execution via uninitialized JPEG callbacks
Published Aug 12, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Windows Graphics Component before 10.0.26100.4946 allows remote attackers to execute code. WindowsCodecs.dll leaves the compress_data_12 and compress_data_16 callbacks uninitialized, then jpeg_finish_compress dereferences one while re-encoding a 12-bit or 16-bit JPEG. Exploitation requires a host application that re-encodes the image plus attacker-controlled heap layout and an address leak, enabling code execution in that application's context.
Summary
What happened
Untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft Windows Graphics Component before 10.0.26100.4946 allows remote attackers to execute code. WindowsCodecs.dll leaves the compress_data_12 and compress_data_16 callbacks uninitialized, then jpeg_finish_compress dereferences one while re-encoding a 12-bit or 16-bit JPEG. Exploitation requires a host application that re-encodes the image plus attacker-controlled heap layout and an address leak, enabling code execution in that application's context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-50165
- Published
- Aug 12, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
- Classifications
- CWE-822, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 12, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.4946
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ThreatLabz WindowsCodecs.dll proof-of-concept harnessproof of concept · demonstrated
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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