# CVE-2022-41981: Memory corruption in OpenImageIO

> A stack-based buffer overflow in OpenImageIO allows arbitrary code execution via a malicious TGA file.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 14 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-41981, GHSA-hcc6-fp5w-rfrr, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-41981

## What is CVE-2022-41981?

CVE-2022-41981 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, 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 stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the TGA file format parser of OpenImageIO v2.3.19.0. A specially-crafted targa file can lead to out of bounds read and write on the process stack, 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-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-41981?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Openimageio Openimageio.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-41981?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2022-41981 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-41981 exists.

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- [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-2022-41981 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-41981 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 23 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-41981 exists.

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-2022-41981/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-41981/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-41981
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41981
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-41981

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-41981/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.