# CVE-2019-14493: PYSEC-2026-718 - NULL Pointer Dereference in OpenCV.

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-14493-opencv-null-pointer-dereference-in-xml-parsing  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-02. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2019-14493 · Severity: low · CVSS 3 · Published 2026-07-02

OpenCV is a widely-used computer vision library that processes images and video. A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in its XML file parser can cause applications using OpenCV to crash when processing malformed XML files, resulting in denial of service.

Technologies: [opencv-contrib-python (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opencv-contrib-python), [opencv-contrib-python-headless (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opencv-contrib-python-headless), [opencv-python (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opencv-python), [opencv-python-headless (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/opencv-python-headless). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2019-14493 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2019-14493 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2019-14493?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3, published 2 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** opencv-contrib-python (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.1.1.26; opencv-contrib-python-headless (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.1.1.26; opencv-python (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.1.1.26; opencv-python-headless (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=4.1.1.26.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2019-14493?** Yes. opencv-contrib-python (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later; opencv-contrib-python-headless (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later; opencv-python (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later; opencv-python-headless (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2019-14493 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2019-14493?** Check whether you run opencv-contrib-python (PyPI), opencv-contrib-python-headless (PyPI), opencv-python (PyPI) or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- opencv-contrib-python (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "opencv-contrib-python>=4.1.1.26"
  ```

- opencv-contrib-python-headless (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "opencv-contrib-python-headless>=4.1.1.26"
  ```

- opencv-python (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "opencv-python>=4.1.1.26"
  ```

- opencv-python-headless (PyPI): upgrade to 4.1.1.26 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "opencv-python-headless>=4.1.1.26"
  ```


## Technical details

This vulnerability is a NULL pointer dereference (CWE-476) in the cv::XMLParser::parse function within the XML persistence module (persistence_xml.cpp). The vulnerability occurs when the parser fails to properly validate pointer bounds during XML tag parsing, leading to dereferencing a null pointer. Exploitation requires supplying a malformed XML file to an application that uses OpenCV's FileStorage XML parsing functionality; no authentication or special privileges are required. An attacker can trigger an application crash, causing denial of service. The vulnerability affects OpenCV versions before 4.1.1, and a patch is available in version 4.1.1 and later.

## Affected products

- OpenCV opencv-python 3.4.0.14 through 4.1.0.25
- OpenCV opencv-python-headless 3.4.3.18 through 4.1.0.25
- OpenCV opencv-contrib-python 3.4.2.17 through 4.1.0.25
- OpenCV opencv-contrib-python-headless 3.4.0.14 through 4.1.0.25

## Identifiers

- CVE-2019-14493
- GHSA-3448-vrgh-85xr
- PYSEC-2026-2795
- PYSEC-2026-2806
- PYSEC-2026-2834
- PYSEC-2026-718

## Timeline

- 2019-07-23: disclosed: Vulnerability reported on GitHub issue #15127
- 2019: patched: Fixed in OpenCV 4.1.1 and later
- 2021-10-12: advisory: Published in GitHub Advisory Database as GHSA-3448-vrgh-85xr

## References

- [https://github.com/opencv/opencv/issues/15127](https://github.com/opencv/opencv/issues/15127)

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-705 - Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-5268-out-of-bounds-write-in-opencv)
- [PYSEC-2026-725 - Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-5064-out-of-bounds-write-in-opencv)
- [PYSEC-2026-724 - Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-5063-out-of-bounds-write-in-opencv)
- [PYSEC-2026-723 - Out-of-bounds Read in OpenCV](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-19624-out-of-bounds-read-in-opencv)
- [PYSEC-2026-719 - Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-9423-out-of-bounds-write-in-opencv)