CVE-2021-36489Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Application crash via malformed image decoder input

Published Feb 3, 2023 · Updated Mar 27, 2025

Out-of-bounds writes in Allegro 5.2.6 and earlier allow remote attackers to crash image-loading applications via crafted TGA files. The image addon's TGA RLE decoder fails to constrain packet runs to the scanline buffer, while its PCX and BMP loaders accept malformed size, palette, or compression metadata. Exploitation requires an application to load an attacker-supplied image, after which memory corruption terminates the process; no data disclosure or code execution is established.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds writes in Allegro 5.2.6 and earlier allow remote attackers to crash image-loading applications via crafted TGA files. The image addon's TGA RLE decoder fails to constrain packet runs to the scanline buffer, while its PCX and BMP loaders accept malformed size, palette, or compression metadata. Exploitation requires an application to load an attacker-supplied image, after which memory corruption terminates the process; no data disclosure or code execution is established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36489
Published
Feb 3, 2023
Updated
Mar 27, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 27, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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