PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2026-20911 LibRaw CVE debrief

CVE-2026-20911 is a critical heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the HuffTable::initval functionality of LibRaw. The vulnerability exists in LibRaw Commit 0b56545 and Commit d20315b. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8 and is classified as CRITICAL. The CVE was published on April 7, 2026, and modified on June 30, 2026.

Vendor: LibRaw
Product: Unknown
CVSS: CRITICAL 9.8
CISA KEV: Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published: 2026-04-07
Original CVE updated: 2026-07-15
Advisory published: 2026-04-07
Advisory updated: 2026-07-15

Who should care

Developers and users of LibRaw, especially those using versions Commit 0b56545 and Commit d20315b, should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to mitigate it. This vulnerability can be exploited by providing a malicious file, which can lead to a heap buffer overflow. Therefore, anyone who uses or develops software with LibRaw should prioritize patching this vulnerability.

Technical summary

The CVE-2026-20911 vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow in the HuffTable::initval functionality of LibRaw. This vulnerability can be triggered by providing a specially crafted malicious file. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a high severity level. The affected versions of LibRaw are Commit 0b56545 and Commit d20315b. The Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) for this vulnerability is CWE-131 and CWE-120.

Defensive priority

This vulnerability has a high defensive priority due to its critical severity and potential for arbitrary code execution. Immediate patching or mitigation is recommended.

Recommended defensive actions

Patch LibRaw to the latest version
Restrict access to untrusted files
Implement memory safety mechanisms
Monitor for suspicious file uploads or processing
Perform regular vulnerability scans and updates

Evidence notes

The CVE-2026-20911 vulnerability was published on April 7, 2026, and modified on June 30, 2026. The vulnerability affects LibRaw versions Commit 0b56545 and Commit d20315b. The CVSS score is 9.8, indicating a critical severity level. The CWE for this vulnerability is CWE-131 and CWE-120.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

CVE-2026-20911 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-20911

CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
CVE-2026-20911 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20911

NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2026-2330

[email protected] - Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Mitigation or vendor reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2026-2330

af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108 - Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-20911

0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-20911.json

0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.