CVE-2017-9111: OpenEXR OpenEXR Invalid Write Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qxh9-r8xw-7v99
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-787
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-9111 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) openexr invalid write vulnerability (CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write) affecting OpenEXR libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves openexr invalid write. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.2.1.

CVE-2017-9111 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-9111
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qxh9-r8xw-7v99
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write
Affected Product OpenEXR
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-9111

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

OpenEXR fixed: 2.2.1 
pip install OpenEXR>=2.2.1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

pip show OpenEXR

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2017-9111, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show OpenEXR

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of OpenEXR in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.2.1), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show OpenEXR command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, where the product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In OpenEXR, 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

In OpenEXR 2.2.0, an invalid write of size 8 in the storeSSE function in ImfOptimizedPixelReading.h could cause the application to crash or execute arbitrary code.

CVE-2017-9111 Affected OpenEXR Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.2.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
OpenEXR
pypi/OpenEXR
PyPI
< 2.2.1
2.2.1

References

NVD — CVE-2017-9111 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9111
OpenEXR Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openexr/openexr/issues/232
OpenEXR Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openexr/openexr/pull/233
OpenEXR Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr
OpenEXR Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openexr/openexr/releases/tag/v2.2.1
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00056.html
usn.ubuntu.com/4148-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4148-1
usn.ubuntu.com/4339-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4339-1
OpenEXR Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4755
OpenEXR Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00060.html
OpenEXR Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00000.html
OpenEXR Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/05/12/5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-9111?
CVE-2017-9111 is a security vulnerability in OpenEXR involving OpenEXR invalid write under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write.
Which OpenEXR versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.2.1 across affected packages: OpenEXR.
What version fixes CVE-2017-9111?
Upgrading to 2.2.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is OpenEXR affected?
Yes, OpenEXR is affected in releases prior to 2.2.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.2.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-9111?
CVE-2017-9111 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-9111?
CVE-2017-9111 is classified under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write (The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2017-9111?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show OpenEXR'. 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-qxh9-r8xw-7v99",
  "modified" : "2025-04-22T18:45:30Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:17:50Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-9111" ],
  "summary" : "OpenEXR invalid write",
  "details" : "In OpenEXR 2.2.0, an invalid write of size 8 in the storeSSE function in ImfOptimizedPixelReading.h could cause the application to crash or execute arbitrary code.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "OpenEXR"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openexr/openexr/issues/232"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openexr/openexr/pull/233"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/openexr/openexr/releases/tag/v2.2.1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00056.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4148-1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00060.html"
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/05/12/5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-787" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-22T18:45:29Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-05-21T18:29:00Z"
  }
}