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CVE Record

CVE-2021-23169: A heap-buffer overflow was found in the copyIntoFrameBuffer function of OpenEXR in versions before 3.0.1.

A heap-buffer overflow was found in the copyIntoFrameBuffer function of OpenEXR in versions before 3.0.1. An attacker could use this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the user running the application compiled against OpenEXR.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

OpenEXR versions before 3.0.1 contain a memory corruption flaw. If a vulnerable application processes malicious OpenEXR image data, the attacker may be able to run code as that application’s user. Business risk depends on whether untrusted EXR files reach production tools or services.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for systems that process externally supplied media or automated rendering workloads. Treat internal-only desktop exposure as lower urgency but still patch through normal security maintenance.

Technical view

CVE-2021-23169 is a CWE-787 heap-buffer overflow in OpenEXR’s copyIntoFrameBuffer function. The CVE description states arbitrary code execution is possible for applications compiled against affected OpenEXR versions. The bundle provides no CVSS score, exploit details, or proof of active exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where applications are compiled against OpenEXR before 3.0.1 and process untrusted EXR image files or image data.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not state active exploitation. The risk is credible because heap overflows in file-processing libraries can be triggered through crafted inputs, but no exploit path is documented here.

Researcher notes

The source bundle contains a concise CVE description and distribution advisories, but no CVSS vector, patch commit, exploitability analysis, or detailed affected-version matrix. Avoid overstating scope beyond OpenEXR before 3.0.1.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade OpenEXR to 3.0.1 or a later vendor-supported fixed release.
  • Apply Fedora, Gentoo, Red Hat, or other distribution security updates where applicable.
  • Identify applications statically or dynamically linked against vulnerable OpenEXR packages.
  • Restrict processing of untrusted EXR files until affected systems are patched.
  • Check vendor guidance for any platform-specific backports or package names.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed OpenEXR versions and confirm they are not before 3.0.1.
  • Review package manager security advisories for OpenEXR update status.
  • Check build dependencies for applications that link against OpenEXR.
  • Verify image-processing workflows that accept external EXR files are patched.
  • Confirm regression tests cover EXR file ingestion after updating packages.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup

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Execution behavior lookup

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CVE-2021-23169 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aOpenEXROpenEXR 3.0.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-787

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.