---
id: CVE-2026-22187
title: >-
  Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 perform unsafe Java
  deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo)
  during image processing
summary: >-
  Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 perform unsafe Java
  deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo)
  during image processing. The loci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads
  and deserializes mem…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-502
vendor: openmicroscopy
product: bio-formats
affected:
  - bio-formats <= 8.3.0
published: '2026-01-07'
updated: '2026-10-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-08T16:17:11.110'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22187'
references:
  - url: 'https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats/'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Jan/7'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-formats-memoizer-unsafe-deserialization-via-bfmemo-cache-files
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-01-07T21:32:08.385631Z'
scores:
  nvd: 7.8
  cna: 6.8
epss: 0.00512
epssPercentile: 0.41759
exploits:
  github: 1
  githubRepos:
    - >-
      https://github.com/George0Papasotiriou/CVE-2026-22187-Bio-Formats-unsafe-Java-deserialization-via-.bfmemo
  checkedAt: '2026-10-08T16:52:49.758Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-10-08T16:52:14.669Z'
---

## Overview

Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 perform unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. The loci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads and deserializes memo files associated with images without validation, integrity checks, or trust enforcement. An attacker who can supply a crafted .bfmemo file alongside an image can trigger deserialization of untrusted data, which may result in denial of service, logic manipulation, or potentially remote code execution in environments where suitable gadget chains are present on the classpath.

## Affected

- `bio-formats <= 8.3.0`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.