# CVE-2026-25556: Artifex MuPDF double free in fz_fill_pixmap_from_display_list

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-25556-artifex-mupdf-double-free-in-fz-fill-pixmap-from-display-list  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-02-06. Updated: 2026-07-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-25556 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-02-06

MuPDF is a widely used library for viewing and managing PDF documents and other file formats. A vulnerability in its barcode decoding component could allow an attacker to crash applications using the library by providing a specially crafted document. This could lead to a service outage or application instability, though it primarily affects software that has specifically enabled barcode support.

Technologies: [Artifex Mupdf](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mupdf). Vendors: [Artifex](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/artifex).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-25556 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-25556 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-25556?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 6 February 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Artifex Software MuPDF 1.23.0 through 1.27.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-25556?** A patch was published on 2026-01-13: Fix committed to MuPDF repository Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-25556 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-25556?** Check whether you run Artifex Mupdf. 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.

## Technical details

A double-free vulnerability exists in the fz_fill_pixmap_from_display_list() function within MuPDF. The function incorrectly assumes ownership of a caller-provided fz_pixmap pointer and releases it during error handling (fz_catch block) before rethrowing the exception. When the caller subsequently attempts to release the same pixmap during its own cleanup, a double-free occurs. This is primarily reachable via fz_decode_barcode_from_display_list() when processing crafted input that triggers a rendering-time error. While the vulnerability is present in the source, exploitability is limited as barcode support (zxing-cpp) is disabled by default in standard MuPDF builds. A patch is available in the project's Git repository.

## Affected products

- Artifex Software MuPDF 1.23.0 through 1.27.0

## Timeline

- 2026-01-12: disclosed: Vulnerability reported by Pavel Kohout
- 2026-01-13: patched: Fix committed to MuPDF repository
- 2026-02-06: advisory: Public disclosure of CVE-2026-25556

## References

- [https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=709029](https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=709029)
- [https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mupdf.git/commit/?id=d4743b6092d513321c23c6f7fe5cff87cde043c1](https://cgit.ghostscript.com/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/mupdf.git/commit/?id=d4743b6092d513321c23c6f7fe5cff87cde043c1)
- [https://mupdf.com/](https://mupdf.com/)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-barcode-decoding-double-free](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mupdf-barcode-decoding-double-free)

## Related threats

- [Artifex MuPDF double free in signature locking](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112036-a-vulnerability-was-detected-in-artifex-mupdf-up-to-1-28-5-this)
- [Artifex MuPDF null pointer dereference in PDF Xref loading](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-92413-artifex-mupdf-null-pointer-dereference-in-pdf-xref-loading)
- [A vulnerability was determined in Artifex MuPDF up to 1.28.0. The impacted element is the function…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-7233-a-vulnerability-was-determined-in-artifex-mupdf-up-to-1-28-0-the)
- [Artifex MuPDF ANSI injection in mutool via PDF metadata](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40505-artifex-mupdf-ansi-injection-in-mutool-via-pdf-metadata)
- [Artifex MuPDF denial of service in mutool clean utility](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-46206-artifex-mupdf-denial-of-service-in-mutool-clean-utility)