Bug 2369348

Summary:	CVE-2025-44906 jhead: Heap Use-After-Free in jhead ProcessFile Function [epel-8]
Product:	[Fedora] Fedora EPEL	Reporter:	Michal Findra <mfindra>
Component:	jhead	Assignee:	Adrian Reber <adrian>
Status:	NEW ---	QA Contact:	Fedora Extras Quality Assurance <extras-qa>
Severity:	high	Docs Contact:
Priority:	high
Version:	epel8	CC:	adrian, tristan.brian111
Target Milestone:	---	Keywords:	Security, SecurityTracking
Target Release:	---
Hardware:	Unspecified
OS:	Unspecified
Whiteboard:	{"flaws": ["e24bb766-735b-47c3-b95e-b1e8228fe4f1"]}
Fixed In Version:		Doc Type:	---
Doc Text:		Story Points:	---
Clone Of:		Environment:
Last Closed:		Type:	---
Regression:	---	Mount Type:	---
Documentation:	---	CRM:
Verified Versions:		Category:	---
oVirt Team:	---	RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team:	---	Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:
Bug Depends On:
Bug Blocks:	2369321

Description Michal Findra 2025-05-30 06:40:28 UTC

More information about this security flaw is available in the following bug:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2369321

Disclaimer: Community trackers are created by Red Hat Product Security team on a best effort basis. Package maintainers are required to ascertain if the flaw indeed affects their package, before starting the update process.

Comment 1 Sylvestor 2025-05-30 12:26:40 UTC

The heap use-after-free vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-44906 in the jhead utility's ProcessFile function poses a significant security risk, particularly for systems utilizing Fedora EPEL 8. This flaw can lead to memory corruption, potentially resulting in application crashes or enabling arbitrary code execution.

🔍 Understanding the Vulnerability
The issue arises from improper memory management within the ProcessFile function of jhead. Specifically, memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed, leading to undefined behavior. This type of vulnerability is critical because it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial-of-service conditions.
Stack Overflow

A similar problem was previously reported in the clearOrientation() function of jhead, where a segmentation fault occurred due to a heap use-after-free error. This was documented in a GitHub issue, highlighting the need for careful memory handling in the application .
GitHub

🛠️ Recommended Actions
Update jhead: Ensure that you are using the latest version of jhead. Developers often release patches to address such vulnerabilities. Check the official repositories or the project's GitHub page for updates.
Windows Forum
+2
TheSecMaster
+2
Cyber Security News
+2

Monitor Official Channels: Keep an eye on Fedora's security advisories and the Red Hat Bugzilla page for updates regarding this specific CVE. These platforms will provide information on patches or workarounds as they become available.

Apply Temporary Mitigations: If an immediate update is not available, consider restricting the use of jhead to trusted files only. Avoid processing images from unverified sources until a fix is applied.

Engage with the Community: Participate in discussions on forums or the project's issue tracker to stay informed about potential fixes and to contribute to the resolution process.

By taking these steps, you can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-44906 and help maintain the security and stability of your systems.