CVE-2021-45942

CVE-2021-45942 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openexr with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-787.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
• CVSS v2: 4.3
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (75th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-787
• Affected product: Openexr
• Published: 2022-01-01
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

OpenEXR 3.1.x before 3.1.4 has a heap-based buffer overflow in Imf_3_1::LineCompositeTask::execute (called from IlmThread_3_1::NullThreadPoolProvider::addTask and IlmThread_3_1::ThreadPool::addGlobalTask). NOTE: db217f2 may be inapplicable.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-45942?

OpenEXR 3.1.x before 3.1.4 has a heap-based buffer overflow in Imf_3_1::LineCompositeTask::execute (called from IlmThread_3_1::NullThreadPoolProvider::addTask and IlmThread_3_1::ThreadPool::addGlobalTask). NOTE: db217f2 may be inapplicable.

How severe is CVE-2021-45942?

CVE-2021-45942 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-45942 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (75th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-45942?

CVE-2021-45942 primarily affects Openexr. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-45942?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2021-45942 published?

CVE-2021-45942 was published on 2022-01-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=41416
• https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/blob/v3.1.4/CHANGES.md#version-314-january-26-2022
• https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/11cad77da87c4fa2aab7d58dd5339e254db7937e
• https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/commit/db217f29dfb24f6b4b5100c24ac5e7490e1c57d0
• https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/pull/1209
• https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/openexr/releases/tag/v3.1.4
• https://github.com/google/oss-fuzz-vulns/blob/main/vulns/openexr/OSV-2021-1627.yaml
• https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/12/msg00022.html
• https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6TEZDE2S2DB4BF4LZSSV4W3DNW7DSRHJ/
• https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HJ5PW4WNXBKCRFGDZGAQOSVH2BKZKL4X/
• https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XJUK7WIQV5EKWTCZBRXFN6INHG6MLS5O/
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-31
• https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5299

Affected products (6)

• cpe:2.3:a:openexr:openexr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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