CVE-2026-22693
Last modified
CVE-2026-22693 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 5.3/10 on the CVSS scale. HarfBuzz is a text shaping engine. Prior to version 12.3.0, a null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the SubtableUnicodesCache::create function located in src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh. EPSS estimates a 0.38% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Description
HarfBuzz is a text shaping engine. Prior to version 12.3.0, a null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the SubtableUnicodesCache::create function located in src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh. The function fails to check if hb_malloc returns NULL before using placement new to construct an object at the returned pointer address. When hb_malloc fails to allocate memory (which can occur in low-memory conditions or when using custom allocators that simulate allocation failures), it returns NULL. The code then attempts to call the constructor on this null pointer using placement new syntax, resulting in undefined behavior and a Segmentation Fault. This issue has been patched in version 12.3.0.
Metrics
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Weakness Enumeration
Affected Software
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Harfbuzz Project | Harfbuzz | < 12.3.0 |
References
- https://github.com/harfbuzz/harfbuzz/security/advisories/GHSA-xvjr-f2r9-c7wwExploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/11/1Exploit, Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/12/1Exploit, Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
Timeline
- Published
- Last Modified
- Status
- Analyzed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-22693?
How severe is CVE-2026-22693?
How do I fix CVE-2026-22693?
Are you affected by CVE-2026-22693?
Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.
Scan your code nowSource: NVD / NIST