# CVE-2021-45972: Memory corruption in n/a

> A stack-based buffer overflow in giftrans allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted GIF file.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-45972, GHSA-mvg4-4v3q-g4xj, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-45972

## What is CVE-2021-45972?

CVE-2021-45972 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 1 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The giftrans function in giftrans 1.12.2 contains a stack-based buffer overflow because a value inside the input file determines the amount of data to write. This allows an attacker to overwrite up to 250 bytes outside of the allocated buffer with arbitrary data.

Weakness: CWE-1284 (Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-45972?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Giftrans Project Giftrans.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-45972?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-45972 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-45972 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45972 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-2021-45972 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-45972 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 1 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45972 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-2021-45972/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45972/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-45972
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45972
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-45972

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45972/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.