CVE-2026-51235 in LibRaw
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
LibRaw 0.21 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow in the stretch() function (src/libraw_cxx.cpp) and fuji_rotate() function (src/decoders/fuji.cpp).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The vulnerability described involves buffer overflow conditions affecting LibRaw version 0.21, specifically within two distinct functions that handle image processing operations. The first vulnerable function is stretch() located in src/libraw_cxx.cpp while the second is fuji_rotate() found in src/decoders/fuji.cpp. These functions process image data from raw camera files and are susceptible to malformed input that can cause memory corruption during execution. The buffer overflow occurs when the software attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes. This vulnerability represents a critical security risk in image processing libraries that handle untrusted input from digital camera files.
The technical implementation of these buffer overflows stems from inadequate bounds checking within the image processing algorithms. In the stretch() function, improper handling of image dimension calculations and memory allocation leads to scenarios where output buffers receive more data than their allocated size permits. Similarly, fuji_rotate() processes Fuji-specific camera file formats with insufficient validation of rotational parameters and image metadata, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious raw files that trigger memory corruption. Both functions demonstrate poor input validation practices that align with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple application crashes, as they present potential paths for remote code execution within systems processing raw camera images. Attackers could craft specially formatted raw image files that, when processed by vulnerable LibRaw implementations, would trigger the buffer overflow conditions during normal operation. This risk is particularly concerning in environments where automated image processing occurs, such as digital asset management systems, photo editing applications, or security surveillance platforms that utilize raw camera data. The vulnerability affects any system using LibRaw 0.21 for image processing, including web applications, desktop software, and mobile platforms that rely on this library for camera file interpretation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to LibRaw 0.22 or later, which contain patches addressing these specific buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement input validation measures that filter or sanitize raw image files before processing, particularly in web-facing applications where user-uploaded content may be processed. Additional protective measures include deploying address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as DEP or ASLR, and conducting regular security audits of image processing pipelines. Organizations should also consider using sandboxing techniques when processing untrusted raw camera files and maintain comprehensive monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. These mitigations align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the exploitation of software vulnerabilities through buffer overflow conditions, and emphasize the importance of proper input validation as outlined in CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds writes.