CVE-2025-70968: FreeImage 3.18.0 contains a Use After Free in PluginTARGA.cpp;loadRLE().

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2025-70968 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting freeimage. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

FreeImage 3.18.0 contains a Use After Free in PluginTARGA.cpp;loadRLE().

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 56%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	2026-01-14
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: freeimage project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-01-14 17:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 10:03 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freeimage project freeimage DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.18.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.18.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.18.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison freeimage sudo apt install freeimage=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.18.0> sudo apt-mark hold freeimage

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

dnf --showduplicates list freeimage sudo dnf downgrade freeimage-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.18.0> sudo dnf versionlock add freeimage

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · php-pecl-yac · FIXED · 3.0.2-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-0322a78385 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-0322a78385

Fedora ELN · openldap · FIXED · 2.6.16-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-4b30c86326 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-4b30c86326

Debian 12 · freeimage · NO FIX YET

Debian 13 · freeimage · NO FIX YET

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: github.com/MiracleWolf/FreeimageCrash/tree/main

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-2025-70968?

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

Is CVE-2025-70968 being exploited?

CVE-2025-70968 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-2025-70968 affect?

CVE-2025-70968 affects freeimage. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). FreeImage 3.18.0 contains a Use After Free in PluginTARGA.cpp;loadRLE().

How urgent is CVE-2025-70968?

Priority 58/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2025-65803 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An integer overflow in the psdParser::ReadImageData function of FreeImage v3.18.0 and before allows attackers
CVE-2024-9029 HIGH 7.5 MITIGATE A flaw was found in the freeimage library
CVE-2024-31570 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE libfreeimage in FreeImage 3.4.0 through 3.18.0 has a stack-based buffer overflow in the PluginXPM.cpp Load fun
CVE-2024-28584 LOW 3.3 DOWNGRADE Null Pointer Dereference vulnerability in open source FreeImage v.3.19.0 [r1909] allows a local attacker to ca
CVE-2024-28583 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE Buffer Overflow vulnerability in open source FreeImage v.3.19.0 [r1909] allows a local attacker to execute arb

References

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