CVE-2019-14493 — opencv-python
HIGHCVE-2019-14493 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.5) NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in opencv-python. 1 public exploit or proof-of-concept reference is indexed, so weaponization risk is real. A fix is available for opencv-python — see the affected versions and patch details below.
NULL Pointer Dereference in OpenCV.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
Where this sits among everything scored
Real-World Exposure
opencv-python🐍opencv-python-headless🐍opencv-contrib-python🐍opencv-contrib-python-headlessReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects PyPI packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
An issue was discovered in OpenCV before 4.1.1 (OpenCV-Python before 4.1.1.26). There is a NULL pointer dereference in the function cv::XMLParser::parse at modules/core/src/persistence.cpp.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐍PyPI | opencv-python | all versions | 4.1.1.26pip install --upgrade 'opencv-python==4.1.1.26' |
| 🐍PyPI | opencv-python-headless | all versions | 4.1.1.26pip install --upgrade 'opencv-python-headless==4.1.1.26' |
| 🐍PyPI | opencv-contrib-python | all versions | 4.1.1.26pip install --upgrade 'opencv-contrib-python==4.1.1.26' |
| 🐍PyPI | opencv-contrib-python-headless | all versions | 4.1.1.26pip install --upgrade 'opencv-contrib-python-headless==4.1.1.26' |
Affected Products
debian linuxdebianopencvopencvResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for opencv-python, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update opencv-python to 4.1.1.26 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2019-14493 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
Fixing This On Your OS
If you run this on a Linux distribution, patch through your package manager against the distro's own security advisory below — it tracks the exact backported fix for your release, which can ship on a different timeline (and sometimes a different severity) than the upstream project.
This flaw did not affect the versions of OpenCV as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7, and 8 as they did not include the vulnerable code, which was introduced in a newer version of the library.
Avoid loading cascade classifiers from external untrusted sources.Source: Red Hat security advisory for CVE-2019-14493 (CC BY 4.0)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-14493 in your dependencies?
Find it across PyPI, including transitive dependencies.