CVE-2025-15564 in Mapnik
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2026
A vulnerability has been found in Mapnik up to 4.2.0. This vulnerability affects the function mapnik::detail::mod<...>::operator of the file src/value.cpp. The manipulation leads to divide by zero. The attack needs to be performed locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-15564 represents a critical divide-by-zero error within the Mapnik mapping library version 4.2.0 and earlier. This issue resides in the mapnik::detail::mod<...>::operator function located in the src/value.cpp source file, making it a fundamental arithmetic operation flaw that can lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification as a local attack vector indicates that exploitation requires physical or administrative access to the target system, though this limitation does not diminish its potential impact on applications that rely on Mapnik for rendering geographic data. The fact that this exploit has been publicly disclosed and is potentially in use underscores the urgency for immediate remediation efforts across affected deployments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the modular arithmetic implementation of Mapnik's value handling system. When the mod operator processes certain input parameters, it fails to validate that the divisor is non-zero before performing the division operation, creating a condition where a zero divisor can cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably. This type of flaw falls under CWE-369, which specifically addresses the divide-by-zero vulnerability category, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that can be exploited to cause program termination or memory corruption. The operational impact extends beyond simple crashes as applications using Mapnik may experience complete service disruption when processing specific geographic data inputs that trigger this condition.
The implications of this vulnerability become particularly concerning when considering Mapnik's widespread adoption in geographic information systems, web mapping applications, and data visualization platforms. Any application that processes user-provided geographic data or performs modular arithmetic operations on coordinate values could be susceptible to this divide-by-zero condition, potentially leading to denial of service attacks that prevent legitimate users from accessing mapping services. The lack of response from the project maintainers despite early reporting creates additional risk as the vulnerability remains unpatched and continues to pose threats to deployed systems. This delay in remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software components without proper vendor response or patching.
Organizations utilizing Mapnik should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation at application layers, patching to versions that address this specific vulnerability, and monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. The recommended approach involves either upgrading to a patched version of Mapnik, implementing defensive programming measures to prevent zero divisor conditions, or deploying application-level safeguards that can detect and handle malformed geographic data inputs. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual patterns of geographic data processing that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential weaknesses in their mapping infrastructure.