Description
Pillow is a Python imaging library. From 11.0.0 until 13.0.0, Exif.load() in src/PIL/Image.py repeatedly slices the remaining EXIF data while it begins with the six-byte Exif header. src/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py accepts an uncapped PNG eXIf chunk, so a file filled with repeated headers causes a new shrinking copy on every iteration and quadratic CPU work. The condition is reachable through Image.getexif(), Image._getexif(), and ImageOps.exif_transpose(), including common photo-upload rotation workflows. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.
Published: 2026-10-21
Score: 7.1 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Pillow is a Python imaging library. From 11.0.0 until 13.0.0, Exif.load() in src/PIL/Image.py repeatedly slices the remaining EXIF data while it begins with the six-byte Exif header. src/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py accepts an uncapped PNG eXIf chunk, so a file filled with repeated headers causes a new shrinking copy on every iteration and quadratic CPU work. The condition is reachable through Image.getexif(), Image._getexif(), and ImageOps.exif_transpose(), including common photo-upload rotation workflows. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.
Title Pillow: PNG eXIf chunk makes EXIF parsing run in quadratic time
Weaknesses CWE-407
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-21T20:56:26.344Z

Reserved: 2026-09-23T14:35:50.130Z

Link: CVE-2026-96643

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-21T21:20:32.797

Modified: 2026-10-21T21:20:32.797

Link: CVE-2026-96643

cve-icon Redhat

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cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

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Weaknesses
  • CWE-407

    Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity