Memory corruption via TGA header null terminators
Published May 26, 2021 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Heap buffer overflow in libcaca master allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory when an application exports a canvas as TGA. The export_tga function allocates exactly the declared output size, then uses sprintf for one-byte header fields whose unused null terminators write past the heap buffer. A user must run an application path that invokes TGA export; the published proof of concept produces a one-byte overwrite and process abort, while code execution is not demonstrated.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in libcaca master allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory when an application exports a canvas as TGA. The export_tga function allocates exactly the declared output size, then uses sprintf for one-byte header fields whose unused null terminators write past the heap buffer. A user must run an application path that invokes TGA export; the published proof of concept produces a one-byte overwrite and process abort, while code execution is not demonstrated.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-30498
- Published
- May 26, 2021
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Caca Labs
- Product
- libcaca
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=master
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- libcaca export_tga proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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