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CVE-2026-23868VulnerabilityPublished Updated

Giflib contains a double-free vulnerability that is the result of a shallow copy in GifMakeSavedImage and incorrect error handling

Affects giflibSource GCVE Database

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Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.1 Medium · fixed in 5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3 : update giflib when convenient.

Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 19:04 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.1Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3, 5.2.2-1ubuntu1.2, 5.2.2-1ubuntu3.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 10 Mar 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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 29 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade the Ubuntu giflib to 5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3 (package) or 5.2.2-1ubuntu1.2 (package) or 5.2.2-1ubuntu3.2 (package).

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSgiflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.2.2-1ubuntu3.2?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <5.2.2-1ubuntu3.2
Fixed in
  • 5.2.2-1ubuntu3.2
Ubuntu 25.10giflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.2.2-1ubuntu2?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • =5.2.2-1ubuntu2
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSgiflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.2.2-1ubuntu1.2?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threatsAffected
  • <5.2.2-1ubuntu1.2
Fixed in
  • 5.2.2-1ubuntu1.2
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSgiflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threatsAffected
  • <5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3
Fixed in
  • 5.1.9-2ubuntu0.3
Ubuntu 20.04 LTSgiflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.1.9-1ubuntu0.1?arch=source&distro=focalOther threatsAffected
  • =5.1.4-3ubuntu1
  • =5.1.9-1
  • =5.1.9-1ubuntu0.1
Fixed in–
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSgiflibpkg:deb/ubuntu/giflib@5.1.4-2ubuntu0.1+esm1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther threatsAffected
  • 5.1.4-1 – 5.1.4-2ubuntu0.1+esm1
4 affected builds
Fixed in–

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

No specific mitigations are provided in the available data.

Description

Giflib contains a double-free vulnerability caused by a shallow copy in the GifMakeSavedImage function combined with incorrect error handling. Triggering this vulnerability requires specific conditions that are difficult to achieve but possible. The vulnerability affects multiple specific versions of giflib, primarily in Ubuntu distributions.

References

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