CVE-2025-48174
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in libavif (AV1 Image File Format library) involves an integer overflow in the makeRoom function in stream.c, which can lead to a buffer overflow when processing specially crafted AVIF image files. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by exploiting this flaw. Any application or system using vulnerable versions of libavif to process AVIF images is affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- libavif
- Any software using libavif library (e.g., image viewers, editors, web applications)
📦 What is this software?
Libavif by Aomedia
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise if the vulnerable library is used in a privileged context.
Likely Case
Denial of service (application crash) when processing malicious AVIF files, potentially disrupting image processing services.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper sandboxing and privilege separation, potentially only causing application crashes without code execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting a malicious AVIF file that triggers the integer overflow, but no public exploit code has been identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.3.0 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif/security/advisories
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update libavif to version 1.3.0 or later. 2. Rebuild any applications that statically link libavif. 3. Restart services using libavif. 4. On Linux: Use package manager updates when available. 5. On Windows/macOS: Update through vendor channels.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable AVIF processing
allTemporarily disable AVIF image processing in applications until patched
Application-specific configuration changes required
Input validation
allImplement strict validation of AVIF file sizes and structure before processing
Custom application-level validation required
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file upload restrictions for AVIF files
- Run applications using libavif in sandboxed/containerized environments with minimal privileges
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check libavif version: 'avifdec --version' or check library version in application dependenciesCheck Version:
avifdec --version 2>/dev/null || pkg-config --modversion libavif || find /usr -name '*libavif*' -exec strings {} \; | grep -i versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm libavif version is 1.3.0 or later and test with known safe AVIF files📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes when processing AVIF files
- Memory access violation errors
- Segmentation faults in libavif-related processes
Network Indicators:
- Unusual AVIF file uploads to web applications
- Multiple failed AVIF processing attempts
SIEM Query:
process.name:"avif" AND (event.action:"crash" OR event.outcome:"failure")🔗 References
- https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif/commit/50a743062938a3828581d725facc9c2b92a1d109
- https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif/commit/c9f1bea437f21cb78f9919c332922a3b0ba65e11
- https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif/commit/e5fdefe7d1776e6c4cf1703c163a8c0535599029
- https://github.com/AOMediaCodec/libavif/pull/2768
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00031.html
