CVE-2026-27980
Next.js: Unbounded next/image disk cache growth can exhaust storage
Impact
## Summary The default Next.js image optimization disk cache (`/_next/image`) did not have a configurable upper bound, allowing unbounded cache growth. ## Impact An attacker could generate many unique image-optimization variants and exhaust disk space, causing denial of service. Note that this does not impact platforms that have their own image optimization capabilities, such as Vercel. ## Patches Fixed by adding an LRU-backed disk cache with `images.maximumDiskCacheSize`, including eviction of least-recently-used entries when the limit is exceeded. Setting `maximumDiskCacheSize: 0` disables disk caching. ## Workarounds If upgrade is not immediately possible: - Periodically clean `.next/cache/images`. - Reduce variant cardinality (e.g., tighten values for `images.localPatterns`, `images.remotePatterns`, and `images.qualities`)
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm | next | >= 16.0.0-beta.0, < 16.1.7 | 16.1.7 |
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel | Next.Js | from 10.0.0 before 16.1.7 |
Weakness classification
References
- NVD record
- CVE.org record
- GitHub advisory
- https://github.com/vercel/next.js/commit/39eb8e0ac498b48855a0430fbf4c22276a73b4bd
- https://github.com/vercel/next.js/releases/tag/v16.1.7
- https://github.com/vercel/next.js/security/advisories/GHSA-3x4c-7xq6-9pq8
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3x4c-7xq6-9pq8
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27980