diff --git a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.cpp b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.cpp
index 098b53e76..7b2ec7115 100644
--- a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.cpp
+++ b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.cpp
@@ -271,10 +271,16 @@ void MDLImporter::InternReadFile(const std::string &pFile,
     }
 }
 
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check whether we're still inside the valid file range
+bool MDLImporter::IsPosValid(const void *szPos) const {
+    return szPos && (const unsigned char *)szPos <= this->mBuffer + this->iFileSize && szPos >= this->mBuffer;
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Check whether we're still inside the valid file range
 void MDLImporter::SizeCheck(const void *szPos) {
-    if (!szPos || (const unsigned char *)szPos > this->mBuffer + this->iFileSize || szPos < this->mBuffer) {
+    if (!IsPosValid(szPos)) {
         throw DeadlyImportError("Invalid MDL file. The file is too small "
                                 "or contains invalid data.");
     }
@@ -284,7 +290,7 @@ void MDLImporter::SizeCheck(const void *szPos) {
 // Just for debugging purposes
 void MDLImporter::SizeCheck(const void *szPos, const char *szFile, unsigned int iLine) {
     ai_assert(nullptr != szFile);
-    if (!szPos || (const unsigned char *)szPos > mBuffer + iFileSize) {
+    if (!IsPosValid(szPos)) {
         // remove a directory if there is one
         const char *szFilePtr = ::strrchr(szFile, '\\');
         if (!szFilePtr) {
diff --git a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.h b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.h
index 433100938..44ff21e3e 100644
--- a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.h
+++ b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLLoader.h
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ protected:
     */
     void SizeCheck(const void* szPos);
     void SizeCheck(const void* szPos, const char* szFile, unsigned int iLine);
+    bool IsPosValid(const void* szPos) const;
 
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------
     /** Validate the header data structure of a game studio MDL7 file
diff --git a/code/AssetLib/NDO/NDOLoader.cpp b/code/AssetLib/NDO/NDOLoader.cpp
index bf2fa113d..edccc1624 100644
--- a/code/AssetLib/NDO/NDOLoader.cpp
+++ b/code/AssetLib/NDO/NDOLoader.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #include <assimp/importerdesc.h>
 #include <assimp/StreamReader.h>
 #include <map>
+#include <limits>
 
 using namespace Assimp;
 
@@ -160,6 +161,9 @@ void NDOImporter::InternReadFile( const std::string& pFile,
 
         temp = file_format >= 12 ? reader.GetU4() : reader.GetU2();
         head = (const char*)reader.GetPtr();
+        if (std::numeric_limits<unsigned int>::max() - 76 < temp) {
+            throw DeadlyImportError("Invalid name length");
+        }
         reader.IncPtr(temp + 76); /* skip unknown stuff */
 
         obj.name = std::string(head, temp);
diff --git a/code/Common/BaseImporter.cpp b/code/Common/BaseImporter.cpp
index d2ff4a9dd..a169c8a10 100644
--- a/code/Common/BaseImporter.cpp
+++ b/code/Common/BaseImporter.cpp
@@ -312,12 +312,7 @@ std::string BaseImporter::GetExtension(const std::string &pFile) {
     if (!pIOHandler) {
         return false;
     }
-    union {
-        const char *magic;
-        const uint16_t *magic_u16;
-        const uint32_t *magic_u32;
-    };
-    magic = reinterpret_cast<const char *>(_magic);
+    const char *magic = reinterpret_cast<const char *>(_magic);
     std::unique_ptr<IOStream> pStream(pIOHandler->Open(pFile));
     if (pStream) {
 
@@ -339,15 +334,15 @@ std::string BaseImporter::GetExtension(const std::string &pFile) {
             // that's just for convenience, the chance that we cause conflicts
             // is quite low and it can save some lines and prevent nasty bugs
             if (2 == size) {
-                uint16_t rev = *magic_u16;
-                ByteSwap::Swap(&rev);
-                if (data_u16[0] == *magic_u16 || data_u16[0] == rev) {
+                uint16_t magic_u16;
+                memcpy(&magic_u16, magic, 2);
+                if (data_u16[0] == magic_u16 || data_u16[0] == ByteSwap::Swapped(magic_u16)) {
                     return true;
                 }
             } else if (4 == size) {
-                uint32_t rev = *magic_u32;
-                ByteSwap::Swap(&rev);
-                if (data_u32[0] == *magic_u32 || data_u32[0] == rev) {
+                uint32_t magic_u32;
+                memcpy(&magic_u32, magic, 4);
+                if (data_u32[0] == magic_u32 || data_u32[0] == ByteSwap::Swapped(magic_u32)) {
                     return true;
                 }
             } else {
diff --git a/include/assimp/postprocess.h b/include/assimp/postprocess.h
index cdcbf0577..a905a8be0 100644
--- a/include/assimp/postprocess.h
+++ b/include/assimp/postprocess.h
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ enum aiPostProcessSteps
      * indexed geometry, this step is compulsory or you'll just waste rendering
      * time. <b>If this flag is not specified</b>, no vertices are referenced by
      * more than one face and <b>no index buffer is required</b> for rendering.
+     * Unless the importer (like ply) had to split vertices. Then you need one regardless.
      */
     aiProcess_JoinIdenticalVertices = 0x2,