CVE-2021-44648Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Memory corruption via oversized GIF LZW code table

Published Jan 12, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap-buffer overflow in GNOME gdk-pixbuf 2.42.6 allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted GIF file. The GIF animation decoder passes a minimum LZW code size of 12 to lzw_decoder_new as 13, whose initialization loop writes 4,098 entries into a 4,096-entry code table and overwrites adjacent object state. A victim application must decode the crafted file; the public reproducer demonstrates memory corruption and an AddressSanitizer abort, but not code execution.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-buffer overflow in GNOME gdk-pixbuf 2.42.6 allows context-dependent attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted GIF file. The GIF animation decoder passes a minimum LZW code size of 12 to lzw_decoder_new as 13, whose initialization loop writes 4,098 entries into a 4,096-entry code table and overwrites adjacent object state. A victim application must decode the crafted file; the public reproducer demonstrates memory corruption and an AddressSanitizer abort, but not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44648
Published
Jan 12, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 12, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record 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

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious 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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