CVE-2026-22187: Pom bio formats Bio-Formats Performs Unsafe Java Deserialization Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qjm3-cvp9-3jj3
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CWE-502
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-22187 is a MODERATE bio-formats performs unsafe java deserialization vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Pom bio formats libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves bio-formats performs unsafe java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-22187 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-22187
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qjm3-cvp9-3jj3
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Pom bio formats
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-22187

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Pom bio formats dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

ome:pom-bio-formats fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>ome</groupId>
    <artifactId>pom-bio-formats</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=ome

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-22187, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=ome

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Pom bio formats in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=ome command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Pom bio formats, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 perform unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. The loci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads and deserializes memo files associated with images without validation, integrity checks, or trust enforcement. An attacker who can supply a crafted .bfmemo file alongside an image can trigger deserialization of untrusted data, which may result in denial of service, logic manipulation, or potentially remote code execution in environments where suitable gadget chains are present on the classpath.

CVE-2026-22187 Affected Pom bio formats Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
ome:pom-bio-formats
maven/ome/pom-bio-formats
Maven
≤ 8.3.0

References

NVD — CVE-2026-22187 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22187
docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats WEB
https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats
Pom bio formats Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/ome/bioformats
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026... WEB
https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Jan/7
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-form... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-formats-memoizer-unsafe-deserialization-via-bfmemo-cache-files

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-22187?
CVE-2026-22187 is a security vulnerability in Pom bio formats involving Bio-Formats performs unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Pom bio formats versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: ome:pom-bio-formats.
What version fixes CVE-2026-22187?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is pom-bio-formats affected?
Yes, ome:pom-bio-formats is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-22187?
CVE-2026-22187 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-22187?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=ome'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qjm3-cvp9-3jj3",
  "modified" : "2026-01-08T17:45:48Z",
  "published" : "2026-01-07T21:31:56Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-22187" ],
  "summary" : "Bio-Formats performs unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing",
  "details" : "Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 perform unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. The loci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads and deserializes memo files associated with images without validation, integrity checks, or trust enforcement. An attacker who can supply a crafted .bfmemo file alongside an image can trigger deserialization of untrusted data, which may result in denial of service, logic manipulation, or potentially remote code execution in environments where suitable gadget chains are present on the classpath.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "ome:pom-bio-formats"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "8.3.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22187"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/ome/bioformats"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Jan/7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-formats-memoizer-unsafe-deserialization-via-bfmemo-cache-files"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-01-08T17:45:48Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-01-07T21:16:02Z"
  }
}