zlib versions 1.3.1.2 through 1.3.2 contain a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the gz_vacate() function when
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.3 High.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 17:01 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 4.0 | 8.3 |
|---|---|---|
| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 |
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 3 Sep 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
CISA SSVC: proof of concept public
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
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by VulnCheck
, 1 hour before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
CISA SSVC assessment
proof of concept public
, 12 hours after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA SSVC, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 13 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| zlibzlib | Affected
| Fixed in– |
GitHubzlibpkg:github/zlibOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Users should monitor vendor communications for updates and avoid using affected versions if possible until a fix is released.
Description
zlib versions 1.3.1.2 through 1.3.2 have a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the gz_vacate() function. This occurs when processing non-blocking gzwrite() operations with stale external buffer pointers. The overflow can be triggered by calling gzprintf() or gzvprintf() after a write stall, leading to an unchecked memmove() that writes beyond the internal input buffer boundary.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85091 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/madler/zlib/commit/df84af25dc1942490e1d1c899a07619152a46148 (opens in a new tab)
- gist.github.com/thesmartshadow/e0b9481792afb7c31e86fee1ff084490 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/madler/zlib (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/madler/zlib/blob/v1.3.2/gzwrite.c (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/zlib-1.3.1.2-through-1.3.2-heap-buffer-overflow-via-gz-vacate (opens in a new tab)