CVE-2021-30498: A flaw was found in libcaca

This month

HIGH 7.8DOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2021-30498 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting libcaca, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found in libcaca. A heap buffer overflow in export.c in function export_tga might lead to memory corruption and other potential consequences.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 29%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2021-05-26
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: fedoraproject · libcaca project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-05-26 22:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

libcaca project libcaca DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.99 beta14 · 0.99 beta15 · 0.99 beta16 · 0.99 beta17 · 0.99 beta18 · 0.99 beta19

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.99

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy libcaca || rpm -q libcaca || libcaca --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.99 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison libcaca sudo apt install libcaca=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.99> sudo apt-mark hold libcaca

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list libcaca sudo dnf downgrade libcaca-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.99> sudo dnf versionlock add libcaca

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 34 · 35 · 36

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 34

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-30498?

libcaca: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-30498 being exploited?

CVE-2021-30498 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-30498 affect?

CVE-2021-30498 affects libcaca, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). A flaw was found in libcaca. A heap buffer overflow in export.c in function export_tga might lead to memory corruption and other potential consequences.

How urgent is CVE-2021-30498?

Priority 50/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2022-0856 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE libcaca is affected by a Divide By Zero issue via img2txt, which allows a remote malicious user to cause a Den
CVE-2021-3410 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A flaw was found in libcaca v0.99.beta19
CVE-2021-30499 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE MITIGATE A flaw was found in libcaca

References

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