# CVE-2026-41069: Strukturag libheif out-of-bounds read in SampleAuxInfoReader

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41069-strukturag-libheif-out-of-bounds-read-in-sampleauxinforeader  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-22. Updated: 2026-05-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-41069 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-05-22

libheif is a widely used software library for processing HEIF and AVIF image files. A vulnerability in how the library handles malformed image sequences allows an attacker to crash applications that use this library by providing a specially crafted image file. This could lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, affecting the availability of services that process user-uploaded images.

Technologies: [struktur AG Libheif](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/libheif). Vendors: [struktur AG](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/struktur-ag).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-41069 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41069 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-41069?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 22 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** struktur AG Libheif <= 1.21.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41069?** A patch was published on 2026-05-19: Fixed in version 1.22.0 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-41069 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-41069?** Check whether you run struktur AG Libheif 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.

## Technical details

An out-of-bounds read and subsequent NULL pointer dereference exists in the SampleAuxInfoReader constructor within libheif/sequences/track.cc. The vulnerability is triggered when a malformed HEIF file contains a specific combination of metadata: a zero entry count in the Sample to Chunk Box (stco) and Sample Auxiliary Information Offsets Box (saio), but a non-zero sample count in the Sample Auxiliary Information Sizes Box (saiz). This configuration causes the parser to enter a loop and attempt to access an empty 'chunks' vector at index 0. An attacker can exploit this by providing a crafted HEIF/AVIF file to any application using the libheif public API (e.g., heif_context_read_from_file). The issue is fixed in version 1.22.0.

## Affected products

- strukturag libheif <= 1.21.2

## Timeline

- 2026-05-19: patched: Fixed in version 1.22.0
- 2026-05-22: disclosed: CVE-2026-41069 published

## References

- [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases/tag/v1.22.0](https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases/tag/v1.22.0)
- [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/security/advisories/GHSA-p82x-fpmv-576r](https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/security/advisories/GHSA-p82x-fpmv-576r)

## Related threats

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- [Strukturag libheif heap OOB read in ImageItem_Grid::decode_grid_tile](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48029-strukturag-libheif-heap-oob-read-in-imageitem-grid-decode-grid)
- [Strukturag libheif integer overflow in region.cc mask parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-47714-strukturag-libheif-integer-overflow-in-region-cc-mask-parsing)
- [Strukturag libheif heap buffer over-read in SampleAuxInfoReader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41071-strukturag-libheif-heap-buffer-over-read-in-sampleauxinforeader)
- [libheif heap buffer over-read in HeifPixelImage::overlay](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-32882-libheif-heap-buffer-over-read-in-heifpixelimage-overlay)