# CVE-2022-38143: Memory corruption in OpenImageIO

> A heap out-of-bounds write in OpenImageIO allows arbitrary code execution via a crafted BMP file, requiring library updates.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Dec 2022
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-38143, GHSA-q39q-7726-rg48, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-38143

## What is CVE-2022-38143?

CVE-2022-38143 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Openimageio Openimageio, published on 23 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A heap out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the way OpenImageIO v2.3.19.0 processes RLE encoded BMP images. A specially-crafted bmp file can write to arbitrary out of bounds memory, which can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-123 (Write-what-where Condition)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-38143?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Openimageio Openimageio.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-38143?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2022-38143 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-38143 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Openimageio Openimageio

- [CVE-2024-55192](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55192/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-55194](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-55194/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-42299](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42299/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-43908](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43908/): OpenImageIO: Signed integer overflow in ConvertCbYCrYToRGB leads to heap out-of-bounds write in DPX 4:2:2 decoder (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-43909](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43909/): OpenImageIO: Signed integer overflow in SwapRGBABytes loop index leads to out-of-bounds read/write in DPX ABGR decoder (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-38143 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-38143 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Openimageio Openimageio, published on 23 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-38143 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Openimageio Openimageio. 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-2022-38143/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38143/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-38143
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38143
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-38143

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-38143/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.