libsixel is a SIXEL encoder/decoder implementation derived from kmiya's sixel. In versions 1.8.7 and prior, when built with the --with-gdk-pixbuf2 option, a use-after-free vulnerability exists in load_with_gdkpixbuf() in loader.c. The cleanup path manually frees the sixel_frame_t object and its internal buffers without consulting the reference count, even though the object was created via the refcounted constructor sixel_frame_new() and exposed to the public callback. A callback that calls sixel_frame_ref(frame) to retain a logically valid reference will hold a dangling pointer after sixel_helper_load_image_file() returns, and any subsequent access to the frame or its fields triggers a use-after-free confirmed by AddressSanitizer. The root cause is a consistency failure between two cleanup strategies in the same codebase: sixel_frame_unref() is used in load_with_builtin() but raw free() is used in load_with_gdkpixbuf(). An attacker supplying a crafted image to any application built against libsixel with gdk-pixbuf2 support can trigger this reliably, potentially leading to information disclosure, memory corruption, or code execution. This issue has been fixed in version 1.8.7-r1.
References
| Link | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/releases/tag/v1.8.7-r1 | Release Notes |
| https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/security/advisories/GHSA-hr25-g2j6-qjw6 | Exploit Vendor Advisory |
| https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/security/advisories/GHSA-hr25-g2j6-qjw6 | Exploit Vendor Advisory |
Configurations
History
23 Apr 2026, 14:46
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time |
Saitoha
Saitoha libsixel |
|
| References | () https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/releases/tag/v1.8.7-r1 - Release Notes | |
| References | () https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/security/advisories/GHSA-hr25-g2j6-qjw6 - Exploit, Vendor Advisory | |
| CPE | cpe:2.3:a:saitoha:libsixel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
15 Apr 2026, 20:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References | () https://github.com/saitoha/libsixel/security/advisories/GHSA-hr25-g2j6-qjw6 - |
14 Apr 2026, 23:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-04-14 23:16
Updated : 2026-04-23 14:46
NVD link : CVE-2026-33023
Mitre link : CVE-2026-33023
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-33023
JSON object : View
Products Affected
saitoha
- libsixel
CWE
CWE-416
Use After Free
