---
id: "CVE-2026-120437"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-120437"]
title: "Netpbm: crafted Targa file reads out of bounds in converter"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 6.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["image-processing", "linux", "netpbm", "package"]
not_affected_if: ["netpbm-not-installed", "no-untrusted-tga-input"]
published_at: "2026-11-02T15:17:25+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-02T15:24:02+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-02T15:26:12+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120437", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T15:24:02+00:00"}]
---

# Netpbm: crafted Targa file reads out of bounds in converter

Netpbm's tgatoppm converter trusts pixel values as color map indexes without bounds checks, so a crafted color-mapped Targa file can read past the color map. An attacker gets a crash of the converter or adjacent memory leaked into the output image.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Run `pnmtopng --version` or `tgatoppm -version` (if available) and compare to the fixed ranges.
- Check whether the system package manager lists a Netpbm package and its version.

## Fix

- Netpbm `10.86.51` or later for the 10.x line
- Netpbm `11.02.30` or later for the 11.02 line
- Netpbm `11.15.08` or later for the 11.03 line

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02T15:24:02+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120437

## Documents

- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netpbm-before-10.86.51-11.02.30-and-11.15.08-out-of-bounds-read-via-tgatoppm

## From the sources

Netpbm before 10.86.51, 11.x before 11.02.30, and 11.03 before 11.15.08 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the tgatoppm converter's get_pixel() function that uses unchecked pixel values as color map indexes. Attackers can supply a crafted color-mapped Targa file whose pixel values exceed the declared color map bounds to crash the converter or leak adjacent memory into the output image.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_