# CVE-2025-26623: PYSEC-2026-1353 - Exiv2 allows Use After Free

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-26623-exiv2-use-after-free-in-tiffsubifd  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-07. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-26623 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-07-07

Exiv2 is a widely-used command-line tool and library for reading and editing metadata in image files. A use-after-free vulnerability in versions 0.28.0–0.28.4 allows an attacker to cause a heap buffer overflow by crafting a malicious image file and tricking a user into writing metadata to it using Exiv2. Successful exploitation could lead to code execution on the victim's system.

Technologies: [exiv2 (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/exiv2). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-26623 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-26623 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-26623?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 7 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** exiv2 (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.28.0,fixed=0.28.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-26623?** Yes. exiv2 (PyPI): upgrade to 0.28.5 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-26623 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-26623?** Check whether you run exiv2 (PyPI) 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

- exiv2 (PyPI): upgrade to 0.28.5 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "exiv2>=0.28.5"
  ```


## Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) exists in the TiffSubIfd component of Exiv2 versions 0.28.0 through 0.28.4. The flaw is triggered specifically during metadata write operations (not read) on a specially crafted image file. An attacker must social-engineer a victim into executing an Exiv2 command with a write operation flag (e.g., `fixiso`) on the malicious image. The vulnerability can result in heap buffer overflow and potential remote code execution. The bug is fixed in version 0.28.5, and versions prior to 0.28.0 are not affected.

## Affected products

- Exiv2 Exiv2 0.28.0 to 0.28.4

## Identifiers

- CVE-2025-26623
- GHSA-38h4-fx85-qcx7
- PYSEC-2026-1353

## Timeline

- 2025-02-18: disclosed: NVD published date
- 2025-02-21: disclosed: GitHub advisory GHSA-38h4-fx85-qcx7 published
- 2025-02-21: patched: Fix released in version 0.28.5

## References

- [https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-38h4-fx85-qcx7](https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-38h4-fx85-qcx7)

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- [PYSEC-2026-1354 - Exiv2 Segmentation Faults in Exiv2::EpsImage::writeMetadata() via crafted EPS file](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-54080-exiv2-segmentation-faults-in-exiv2-epsimage-writemetadata-via)
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