# CVE-2026-43904: OpenImageIO heap overflow in Softimage PIC RLE decoder

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-43904-openimageio-heap-overflow-in-softimage-pic-rle-decoder  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-14. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-43904 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-05-14

OpenImageIO is a widely used library in the visual effects and animation industry for processing various image file formats. A vulnerability in how the library handles Softimage PIC files allows a specially crafted image to crash the application or potentially allow an attacker to take control of the system. This occurs when a user opens a malicious image file, which could lead to data theft or service disruptions in production environments.

Technologies: [Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openimageio). Vendors: [Academy Software Foundation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/academy-software-foundation).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-43904 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-43904 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-43904?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 14 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO < 3.0.18.0, < 3.1.13.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-43904?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-43904 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-43904?** Check whether you run Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in OpenImageIO's Softimage PIC image decoder due to improper bounds checking of Run-Length Encoding (RLE) data. Specifically, in softimageinput.cpp, the 'longCount' variable (a uint16 provided by the file) is not clamped to the remaining scanline width in the mixed RLE and pure RLE processing paths. An attacker can provide a crafted .pic file with an RLE length up to 65535 bytes, exceeding the allocated scanline buffer. Exploitation requires a user to open the malicious file and can result in arbitrary code execution or a denial-of-service (crash). The issue is resolved in versions 3.0.18.0 and 3.1.13.0 by implementing proper clamping using std::min.

## Affected products

- Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO < 3.0.18.0, < 3.1.13.0

## Timeline

- 2026-05-03: advisory: GitHub advisory published by maintainers
- 2026-05-14: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenImageIO/security/advisories/GHSA-4499-j545-7q33](https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenImageIO/security/advisories/GHSA-4499-j545-7q33)

## Related threats

- [OpenImageIO integer overflow in Cineon codec scanline buffer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113681-openimageio-before-3-0-20-0-3-1-x-before-3-1-15-0-and-3-2-x)
- [OpenImageIO heap overflow in TIFF CMYK decoding](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-67549-openimageio-is-a-toolset-for-reading-writing-and-manipulating)
- [OpenImageIO use-after-scope in multithreaded TIFF decompression](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65970-openimageio-is-a-toolset-for-reading-writing-and-manipulating)
- [OpenImageIO integer overflow in GIF palette splitting](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65969-openimageio-is-a-toolset-for-reading-writing-and-manipulating)
- [OpenImageIO heap overflow in cineon image parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-63638-openimageio-is-a-toolset-for-reading-writing-and-manipulating)