# CVE-2026-43996: OpenImageIO out-of-bounds read in TGAInput decode_pixel

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-43996-openimageio-out-of-bounds-read-in-tgainput-decode-pixel  
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-2026-43996 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-05-14

OpenImageIO is a library used by visual effects and animation software to process various image file formats. A vulnerability in how it handles TGA image files could allow a specially crafted image to crash the application using the library. This could lead to a denial-of-service, interrupting production workflows or causing data loss in unsaved projects.

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-2026-43996 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-43996 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-43996?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 14 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO < 3.0.18.0, < 3.1.13.0, <= 3.2.0.1-dev.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-43996?** 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-2026-43996 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-43996?** 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

An integer wraparound vulnerability exists in TGAInput::decode_pixel within OpenImageIO. The bounds check for palette access performs 32-bit unsigned arithmetic (k + palbytespp). When k is a large value such as 0xFFFFFFFC and palbytespp is 4, the result wraps to 0, bypassing the check against palette_alloc_size. The subsequent memory access uses the original large value of k as an index, resulting in an out-of-bounds read of approximately 4GB past the buffer, causing a segmentation fault (SEGV). This issue is triggered by processing a malformed TGA file with a crafted palette index. The vulnerability is fixed in versions 3.0.18.0 and 3.1.13.0.

## Affected products

- Academy Software Foundation OpenImageIO < 3.0.18.0, < 3.1.13.0, <= 3.2.0.1-dev

## Timeline

- 2026-05-03: advisory: GitHub advisory GHSA-mq8j-73c4-cr55 published
- 2026-05-14: disclosed: CVE-2026-43996 published

## References

- [https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenImageIO/security/advisories/GHSA-mq8j-73c4-cr55](https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenImageIO/security/advisories/GHSA-mq8j-73c4-cr55)

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- [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)