CVE-2021-46822

Application crash via mismatched PPM buffer write

Published Jun 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in libjpeg-turbo through 2.0.90 allows context-dependent attackers to crash an application via a crafted PPM file. The rdppm.c start_input_ppm path selects get_word_rgb_row for 16-bit PPM input even when tjLoadImage supplies a one-component grayscale destination, so the row routine writes three color samples into storage sized for one. Exploitation requires an application to pass attacker-controlled 16-bit PPM data to tjLoadImage while requesting grayscale output; the upstream project reports no known applications using that unsupported combination.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in libjpeg-turbo through 2.0.90 allows context-dependent attackers to crash an application via a crafted PPM file. The rdppm.c start_input_ppm path selects get_word_rgb_row for 16-bit PPM input even when tjLoadImage supplies a one-component grayscale destination, so the row routine writes three color samples into storage sized for one. Exploitation requires an application to pass attacker-controlled 16-bit PPM data to tjLoadImage while requesting grayscale output; the upstream project reports no known applications using that unsupported combination.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46822
Published
Jun 18, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 18, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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