CVE-2021-42716
CVSS v3
7.1
HIGH
EPSS Score
1.5 %
exploit probability, as of 2026-09-25
CISA KEV
No
known exploited
Exploitation
—
SSVC status
Description
An issue was discovered in stb stb_image.h 2.27. The PNM loader incorrectly interpreted 16-bit PGM files as 8-bit when converting to RGBA, leading to a buffer overflow when later reinterpreting the result as a 16-bit buffer. An attacker could potentially have crashed a service using stb_image, or read up to 1024 bytes of non-consecutive heap data without control over the read location.
Technical details
- Published
- 2021-10-21
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2021-42716?
An issue was discovered in stb stb_image.h 2.27. The PNM loader incorrectly interpreted 16-bit PGM files as 8-bit when converting to RGBA, leading to a buffer overflow when later reinterpreting the result as a 16-bit buffer. An attacker could potentially have crashed a service using stb_image, or read up to 1024 bytes of non-consecutive heap data without control over the read location.
Is CVE-2021-42716 actively exploited?
Active exploitation of CVE-2021-42716 has not been confirmed. Its EPSS score was 1.5% on 2026-09-25, the estimated probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2021-42716?
CVE-2021-42716 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.1 (HIGH severity).
Is CVE-2021-42716 affecting your environment?
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