CVE-2025-53011: MaterialX Null Pointer Dereference Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2025-53011: MaterialX Null Pointer Dereference in MaterialXCore Shader Generation due to Unchecked implGraphOutput. Affects materialx versions >= 1.39.2, < 1.39.3. Fixed in 1.39.3. How to fix ↓
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Background
MaterialX is an open-source library designed for the creation and management of rich material representations in 3D graphics. It provides a framework for defining materials and shaders, allowing for interoperability between various rendering engines. The library is widely used in visual effects and game development. However, it is susceptible to a null pointer dereference vulnerability when parsing shader nodes in MTLX files, which can lead to application crashes if exploited.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the MaterialXCore code accessing a potentially null pointer when extracting output nodes from a material node definition. Specifically, in the source code, the implementation graph output is retrieved without checking if it is null. This oversight can lead to a crash when a maliciously crafted MTLX file is processed, allowing an attacker to disrupt the functionality of applications that rely on MaterialX.
How To Fix
Latest published version: 1.39.5 as of 23 Oct 2026
pip install --upgrade "materialx==1.39.5"Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
1.39.3
This is the first release that contains the fix.
pip install --upgrade "materialx==1.39.3"Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, avoid processing MTLX files from untrusted sources. Implement additional validation checks in your application to ensure that output nodes are not null before accessing their properties.
Conclusion
The CVE-2025-53011 vulnerability in the MaterialX library poses a significant risk due to its potential for causing application crashes through null pointer dereference. Users are advised to update to the latest version to mitigate this risk and implement workarounds if immediate updates are not feasible.
See every vulnerability recorded for materialx →
FAQ
CVE-2025-53011 is a vulnerability in the MaterialX library that allows for a null pointer dereference, potentially leading to application crashes when processing malicious MTLX files.
You can check if your application is affected by using the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities without requiring installation.
Exploiting this vulnerability can cause applications that use MaterialX to crash, disrupting services and potentially leading to denial of service.
Yes, a patch is available in MaterialX version 1.39.3. It is recommended to update to this version or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
If immediate updates are not possible, implement validation checks to ensure that output nodes are not null before accessing them, and avoid using untrusted MTLX files.
References
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