PatchTheCVECVE-2026-5443: A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists during the decoding of `PALETTE COLOR` DICOM images
CVE-2026-5443 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting orthanc. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists during the decoding of `PALETTE COLOR` DICOM images. Pixel length validation uses 32-bit multiplication for width and height calculations. If these values overflow, the validation check incorrectly succeeds, allowing the decoder to read and write to memory beyond allocated buffers.
Why this priority
- Critical severity
- 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 | 0.6% (top 53%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-787 |
| Published | 2026-04-09 |
| Last modified | 2026-10-26 |
Last updated 2026-10-26 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
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-2026-5443?
orthanc: upgrade to 1.12.11. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2026-5443 being exploited?
CVE-2026-5443 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-2026-5443 affect?
CVE-2026-5443 affects orthanc. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists during the decoding of `PALETTE COLOR` DICOM images. Pixel length validation uses 32-bit multiplication for width and height calculations. If these values overflow, the validation check incorrectl
How urgent is CVE-2026-5443?
Priority 51/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-5442 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the DICOM image decoder
- CVE-2026-5445 CRITICAL 9.1 UPGRADE An out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the `DecodeLookupTable` function within `DicomImageDecoder.cpp`
- CVE-2026-5437 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE An out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in `DicomStreamReader` during DICOM meta-header parsing
- CVE-2026-5440 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE A memory exhaustion vulnerability exists in the HTTP server due to unbounded use of the `Content-Length` heade
- CVE-2026-5439 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE A memory exhaustion vulnerability exists in ZIP archive processing