CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-58264NVD status: Deferred

fluidsynth: Heap-based Buffer Overflow

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-58264 is a critical-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in fluidsynth, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected fluidsynth versions: >= 1.1.2, < 2.5.6. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.59% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of fluidsynth you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
FluidSynthfluidsynth>= 1.1.2, < 2.5.6Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (github.com).

Official description

FluidSynth is a software synthesizer based on the SoundFont 2 specifications. From 1.1.2 until 2.5.6, the FluidSynth command handler accepts a pitch_bend_range command whose channel argument is not bounds checked before the supplied value is written through the selected synth channel. An out-of-range channel can therefore cause an out-of-bounds heap write, leading to denial of service or possible code execution. The issue is remotely reachable when the TCP server is enabled through new_fluid_server() or fluidsynth -s, and it is locally reachable through malicious commands delivered to the FluidSynth shell on standard input. Applications that do not use the shell, command handler, or TCP server are not affected. This issue is fixed in version 2.5.6.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Heap-based Buffer Overflow

The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the heap.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
  • Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
  • Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.

More Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities (CWE-122)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in fluidsynth

All fluidsynth vulnerabilities

Recent Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities

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