CFITSIO through 4.7.0 contains a heap-based out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the imcompress.c unquantize helpers that allows attackers to read memory before the fits_rand_value table via a zero or negative ZDITHER0 seed
Affects cfitsioSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 6.9 Medium.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 22:31 UTC
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10cfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTScfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTScfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 22.04 LTScfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 20.04 LTScfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 18.04 LTScfitsiopkg:deb/ubuntu/cfitsio?arch=source&distro=bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
CFITSIO through 4.7.0 contains a heap-based out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the imcompress.c unquantize helpers that allows attackers to read memory before the fits_rand_value table via a zero or negative ZDITHER0 seed. Attackers can supply a crafted FITS file with a SUBTRACTIVE_DITHER_1 compressed image, read through fits_open_file() and fits_read_pix(), to cause crashes or leak heap contents in decoded pixels.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-111124 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-111124 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/HEASARC/cfitsio (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/HEASARC/cfitsio/blob/d6d27653740864a0483e74cff23c53e34e1dceee/imcompress.c (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/HEASARC/cfitsio/blob/d6d27653740864a0483e74cff23c53e34e1dceee/imcompress.c (opens in a new tab)
- hackmd.io/@haind-pwn/cfitsio-zdither0-dither-seed-oob-read (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/cfitsio-through-4.7.0-heap-out-of-bounds-read-via-negative-zdither0-seed (opens in a new tab)