CVE-2023-39742: giflib v5.2.1 was discovered to contain a segmentation fault via the component getarg.c.

Routine

MEDIUM 5.5DOWNGRADE

CVE-2023-39742 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting giflib. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

giflib v5.2.1 was discovered to contain a segmentation fault via the component getarg.c.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 72%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-120
Published	2023-08-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: giflib project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-08-25 14:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:12 UTCUpdated Record last modified

giflib project giflib DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.2.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy giflib || rpm -q giflib || giflib --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.2.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison giflib sudo apt install giflib=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.1> sudo apt-mark hold giflib

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list giflib sudo dnf downgrade giflib-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.1> sudo dnf versionlock add giflib

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-39742?

giflib: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-39742 being exploited?

CVE-2023-39742 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-39742 affect?

CVE-2023-39742 affects giflib. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). giflib v5.2.1 was discovered to contain a segmentation fault via the component getarg.c.

How urgent is CVE-2023-39742?

Priority 31/100. Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-48161 HIGH 7.1 DOWNGRADE Buffer Overflow vulnerability in GifLib Project GifLib v.5.2.1 allows a local attacker to obtain sensitive inf
CVE-2026-26740 HIGH 8.2 DOWNGRADE Buffer Overflow vulnerability in giflib v.5.2.2 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the
CVE-2026-23868 MEDIUM 5.1 UPGRADE Giflib contains a double-free vulnerability that is the result of a shallow copy in GifMakeSavedImage and inco
CVE-2024-45993 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE Giflib Project v5.2.2 is vulnerable to a heap buffer overflow via gif2rgb.
CVE-2022-28506 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE There is a heap-buffer-overflow in GIFLIB 5.2.1 function DumpScreen2RGB() in gif2rgb.c:298:45.

References

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