CVE-2019-17545: GDAL - Double Free in OGRExpatRealloc
Summary
CVE-2019-17545: GDAL through 3.0.1 has a poolDestroy double free in OGRExpatRealloc in ogr/ogr_expat.cpp when the 10MB threshold is exceeded. Affects gdal across 2 version ranges.
< 3.0.2
< 148115fcc40f1651a5d15fa34c9a8c528e7147bb
Fixed in 148115fcc40f1651a5d15fa34c9a8c528e7147bb. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- gdal · Debian:11
The same CVE-2019-17545 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
Background
GDAL is an open-source geospatial data abstraction library that provides support for reading and writing raster and vector geospatial data formats. It is widely used in various applications and frameworks for geospatial data processing and analysis. This vulnerability affects GDAL versions up to 3.0.1.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2019-17545, is a double free issue in the OGRExpatRealloc function in the ogr/ogr_expat.cpp file of GDAL. When the allocated memory exceeds the 10MB threshold, a double free occurs during the pool destruction process. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 3.13.3 as of 23 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "gdal==3.13.3"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
148115fcc40f1651a5d15fa34c9a8c528e7147bb
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "gdal==148115fcc40f1651a5d15fa34c9a8c528e7147bb"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is strongly advised to update to the fixed version of GDAL.
Conclusion
The vulnerability CVE-2019-17545 in GDAL has been identified as a double free issue in the OGRExpatRealloc function. It is crucial to update GDAL to version 3.0.2 or later to mitigate the risk of exploitation. For further assistance or support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for gdal →
FAQ
GDAL is an open-source geospatial data abstraction library used for reading and writing raster and vector geospatial data formats.
This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.
GDAL versions up to 3.0.1 are affected by this vulnerability.
Yes, updating GDAL to version 3.0.2 or later will fix this vulnerability.
No, there are no known workarounds. Updating to the fixed version is the recommended solution.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for gdal.
Habilume
Habit tracker with a companion that grows with you
Complete habits, earn Lume Points, and watch your Lume grow as you stay consistent.
