CVE-2023-45666

What it is

stb_image is a single file MIT licensed library for processing images. It may look like `stbi__load_gif_main` doesn’t give guarantees about the content of output value `*delays` upon failure. Although it sets `*delays` to zero at the beginning, it doesn’t do it in case the image is not recognized as GIF and a call to `stbi__load_gif_main_outofmem` only frees possibly allocated memory in `*delays` without resetting it to zero. Thus it would be fair to say the caller of `stbi__load_gif_main` is responsible to free the allocated memory in `*delays` only if `stbi__load_gif_main` returns a non null value. However at the same time the function may return null value, but fail to free the memory in `*delays` if internally `stbi__convert_format` is called and fails. Thus the issue may lead to a memory leak if the caller chooses to free `delays` only when `stbi__load_gif_main` didn’t fail or to a double-free if the `delays` is always freed

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

1.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2023-10-21 00:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 06:29 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 1.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.3 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2023-10-21 00:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 06:29 UTC

Exploit probability

1.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-415

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Nothings Stb image.h 2.28

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.3

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

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