---
id: CVE-2026-65979
title: >-
  OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image
  format, widely used in the motion picture industry
summary: >-
  OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image
  format, widely used in the motion picture industry. From version 3.4.0 through
  3.4.12, the HTJ2K decoder parses a header-length field (PLEN) from a chunk's
  compr…
severity: medium
cwe:
  - CWE-20
  - CWE-125
published: '2026-08-25'
updated: '2026-09-09'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-09T21:07:31.353'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-65979'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/c7af2d233b7b2a4452c11f26cf47584cc2b35721
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/releases/tag/v3.4.13'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/security/advisories/GHSA-3j9c-j7c9-x293
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/security/advisories/GHSA-3j9c-j7c9-x293
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-65979.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-65979'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2523735'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-65979'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-65979'
tags:
  - nvd
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
epss: 0.0018
epssPercentile: 0.06745
ingestedAt: '2026-09-09T21:22:45.553Z'
vendor: Red Hat
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
---

## Overview

OpenEXR is the reference implementation and specification for the EXR image format, widely used in the motion picture industry. From version 3.4.0 through 3.4.12, the HTJ2K decoder parses a header-length field (PLEN) from a chunk's compressed data but never checks that this value fits within the available buffer before using it. When decoding, it advances the codestream pointer by the attacker-supplied header size and passes the resulting offset and remaining length to the OpenJPH memory-input path, so a crafted value pushes the pointer past the end of the buffer and causes an out-of-bounds read. Because this field comes straight from attacker-controlled EXR chunk data, the flaw is reachable during normal decoding of an untrusted file. This issue is fixed in version 3.4.13.

## Remediation

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

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · updated 2026-09-18 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-65979.json)