High 7.1Published Oct 21, 2026

CVE-2026-96643Pillow: PNG eXIf chunk makes EXIF parsing run in quadratic time

Updated under an hour ago (Oct 25, 2026, 9:23 PM ET)

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It affects python-pillow Pillow. Add what you run to find out whether that includes you.

EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.33%, higher than 25% of scored CVEs.

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Every CVE for python-pillow Pillow

Exploited in the last 30 days

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.

CVSS: 7.1 HIGH (v4.0, CNA)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
Weakness (CWE): CWE-407
Known exploited: Not in CISA's KEV catalog
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): 0.33% (percentile 25)
Assigned by: GitHub_M
NVD analysis: Undergoing Analysis
Record last updated: Oct 23, 2026
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 21, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

python-pillow Pillow python_pillow:pillow (from the name)	from 11.0.0, < 13.0.0	CNA record

References

https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/security/advisories/GHSA-g4qv-2jxx-769hx-refsource-confirm
https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/pull/10073x-refsource-misc
https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/commit/806e38381c781f32bbd22f4cd026678acd40fd6cx-refsource-misc
https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases/tag/13.0.0x-refsource-misc

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.