# CVE-2021-44648: Memory corruption in n/a > A heap-buffer overflow in gdk-pixbuf allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted GIF files. - **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 12 Jan 2022 - **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2021-44648, DEBIAN-CVE-2021-44648, GHSA-hm7g-c3p8-8xwf, MGASA-2022-0402, SUSE-SU-2022:3153-1, SUSE-SU-2022:3230-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-44648, USN-5607-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:12296-1 ## What is CVE-2021-44648? CVE-2021-44648 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. ### Official description GNOME gdk-pixbuf 2.42.6 is vulnerable to a heap-buffer overflow vulnerability when decoding the lzw compressed stream of image data in GIF files with lzw minimum code size equals to 12. Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-44648? It affects 3 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Enterprise Storage 7 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | All versions | 2.42.9-150400.5.6.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP3 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Manager Proxy 4.1 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | SUSE:Manager Server 4.1 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | All versions | 2.42.9-150400.5.6.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.2 | All versions | 2.40.0-150200.3.9.1 | | `gdk-pixbuf` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 2.42.9-3.1 | Products: Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Gnome Gdkpixbuf. ## How do I fix CVE-2021-44648? Apply the vendor's patch. ## Is CVE-2021-44648 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-44648 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux - [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2021-44648 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2021-44648 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-44648 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page. Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44648/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44648/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44648 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44648 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-44648 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44648/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.