CVE-2026-54604

OpenSlide: openslide_read_region() returns uninitialized memory with libtiff 4.7.1

MEDIUM
5.3
CVSS Score
Published: September 17, 2026 at 08:29 PM UTC
Updated: September 23, 2026 at 06:30 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorOpenslide

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Severity
MEDIUM5.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.5%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

OpenSlide is a C library for reading whole slide image files. Prior to 4.0.1, a behavior change in libtiff 4.7.1 causes the indirect TIFF tile path in src/openslide-decode-tiff.c and _openslide_tiff_read_tile() to request a full-height destination for a partial bottom tile row, allowing uninitialized heap memory to enter pixel data returned by openslide_read_region(). A crafted but valid slide can trigger the issue in TIFF-based formats other than Hamamatsu NDPI when a network service renders attacker-provided slides. Successful extraction depends on pixel transparency handling and recompression, OpenSlide with libtiff 4.7.0 or earlier is not affected, and official binary builds 4.0.0.10 and 4.0.0.11 are affected. This issue is fixed in OpenSlide 4.0.1 and official binary build 4.0.0.12.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 4.0.1
Affected range stops below 4.0.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.3MEDIUMGitHub_M
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusAWAITING ANALYSIS
CWE
CWE-758CWE-908

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