libass: Out-of-bounds Read
CVE-2026-61627 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in libass, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected libass versions: < 0.17.5. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.15% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of libass you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- PassiveA user only needs to do something routine, such as viewing a page.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
libass is a portable subtitle renderer for the `ASS`/SSA (Advanced Substation Alpha/Substation Alpha) subtitle format. Prior to 0.17.5, libass can overread and overwrite the glyph array in `wrap_lines_measure` while rendering malicious `ASS` content. In `wrap modes other than two`, a final line ending with a literal backslash-n sequence and otherwise consisting only of such sequences or spaces can remain after early trimming and make the line-measurement loops overshoot by one glyph. When the total text size exactly matches the allocated glyph-array capacity, the first loop reads an uninitialized 32-bit fixed-point `pos.x` value, although that value is not subsequently used. The second loop writes `pos.x` and `pos.y` beyond the array, zeroing the first and adding an attacker-controllable offset to the second. No actual exploitation beyond possible denial of service is known; broader exploitation is theoretical and constrained by the addresses, limited writes, and ASLR. This issue is fixed in version 0.17.5.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in libass
- 7.3 High severity
Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.