Skip to main content
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Plant crafted magic file in $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic
  2. Delivery
    Victim app calls g_content_type_guess()
  3. Exploit
    Byte-swap in _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line()
  4. Execution
    2-byte out-of-bounds heap write
  5. Impact
    Application crash or memory corruption

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Heap buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a little-endian CPU (e.g. x86/x86_64 or little-endian ARM - the common case, so not a strong limiter), local write access to a user-writable XDG data location so the attacker can place a crafted MIME magic file at $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic, and a victim application that subsequently performs MIME type detection (e.g. via g_content_type_guess()) which loads and parses that file. Limiting factors: it does not fire on big-endian systems, it needs local file-write access rather than any network vector (AV:L), and it depends on user interaction (UI:R) in that some application must actually parse the malicious database; it yields no confidentiality impact and, as scored, no privilege gain beyond the parsing process's own context.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H, 7.1) correctly frames this as a locally-triggered availability/integrity issue rather than a remote code execution primitive: exploitation requires the ability to write a file into a local user-writable XDG data path and for an application to then parse it (UI:R), and it only fires on little-endian systems. There is no confidentiality impact (C:N). No EPSS score, POC, or KEV entry was provided, and no public exploit is identified, so real-world exploitation pressure is currently low despite the Important-severity rating. The main residual risk is scenario-dependent: if a higher-privileged service or a different user is induced to parse an attacker-planted magic file, the 2-byte OOB write could be leveraged beyond a self-inflicted crash - but as scored (S:U, local, no privilege gain over one's own session) this is primarily a robustness/DoS and potential memory-corruption bug rather than a mass-exploitable RCE. Worth verifying with the vendor: PR:N is assigned even though the attacker must control a file in a user-writable directory, which in practice presumes local account access.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

On a shared little-endian Linux host, a local user writes a crafted magic database to $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic, then opens a file manager or launches an application that calls g_content_type_guess(); parsing the malicious byte-swap entry triggers a 2-byte out-of-bounds heap write, crashing the process or corrupting adjacent heap memory. If a higher-privileged process is coaxed into parsing the attacker's magic file, the same corruption could be escalated. No public exploit code is identified at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 17, 2026

Out-of-bounds heap write in the freedesktop xdgmime library (bundled with GLib-based MIME detection) allows a local attacker to crash or corrupt the memory of any application that guesses content types via g_content_type_guess(). The flaw lives in _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line() in xdgmimemagic.c and triggers on little-endian systems when a maliciously crafted MIME magic file placed in a user-writable XDG data location is parsed, producing a 2-byte out-of-bounds write. Red Hat rates it 7.1 (Important); no public exploit is identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

No vendor-released patched version was identified in the provided data; the upstream fix is tracked as a freedesktop xdgmime work item (https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/xdgmime/-/work_items/41) and a released patched version is not independently confirmed, so monitor the Red Hat advisory (https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16118) and apply the xdgmime/GLib update for your RHEL 7/8/9/10 release as soon as it ships. As compensating controls until a patch lands, restrict who can write to per-user XDG data locations and audit for unexpected $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic files, since planting one is the precondition; on multi-user or service hosts, ensure daemons that perform MIME detection do not read magic databases from untrusted user home directories - for example run such services with a sanitized XDG_DATA_HOME/XDG_DATA_DIRS pointing only to trusted system paths, accepting that this disables user-customized MIME associations. There is no network-facing surface to firewall off; the trade-off of these controls is reduced per-user MIME customization.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

xdgmime is the reference implementation of the freedesktop.org Shared MIME-info specification and is vendored into GLib/GIO, so it underpins content-type detection across the Linux desktop stack (file managers, GTK applications, thumbnailers, and anything calling g_content_type_guess()). Compiled MIME magic databases (the $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic file) are parsed at runtime to match file signatures. The bug is a textbook CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow: while byte-swapping magic values on little-endian hardware, _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line() performs incorrect pointer arithmetic on the write side, so the swapped 2-byte value is stored past the end of the allocated buffer. Because XDG data directories under the user's home are writable and take precedence in the MIME lookup order, a user can supply a malicious magic database that any subsequently launched MIME-parsing process will load.

Know when Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (redhat) PRIMARY 7.1 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.1 HIGH

Local attacker-controlled magic file (AV:L) parsed only when an app performs MIME detection (UI:R); OOB write corrupts memory (I:H/A:H) with no data disclosure (C:N).

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE HIGH
Red Hat 7.1 MEDIUM

Primary rating from Vendor (redhat).

CVSS VectorVendor: redhat

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

A flaw was found in xdgmime. A heap-based buffer overflow can be triggered in _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line() in the xdgmimemagic.c file on little-endian systems when an attacker-controlled MIME magic file in a user-writable XDG data location (e.g., in the $XDG_DATA_HOME/mime/magic path) is parsed by an application performing MIME type detection (e.g., via g_content_type_guess()). When performing byte-swap, incorrect pointer arithmetic on the write side causes an out-of-bounds write of 2 bytes, resulting in an application crash or memory corruption.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The xdgmime library bundled in GLib and widely distributed across Linux distributions enables local attackers to crash applications and corrupt memory through maliciously crafted MIME configuration files. This impacts organizations operating multi-user systems and managed Linux desktops where unprivileged users can place files in shared directories. With no vendor patch currently available and pervasive dependency on affected code, immediate interim controls are essential to protect production systems.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: enforce restrictive permissions (0700 minimum) on ~/.local/share/ and XDG data directories to prevent file creation by local users; deploy file integrity monitoring on XDG directories using system tools (aide, tripwire, or osquery); disable MIME detection functionality in applications where non-essential; restrict local system access to authorized users only; consider containerization of vulnerable high-value applications with restricted filesystem access; monitor vendor channels for patch availability and coordinate testing procedures before production deployment.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 97% exploitable
Prevalence
High
xdgmime underpins MIME detection across GLib-based Linux desktops
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

36
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +36
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

A heap overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a buffer allocated in the heap memory region.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2026-18663 MEDIUM
5.9 Aug 12

Heap corruption via double-free in 389-ds-base's LDAP control parsing allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to crash

CVE-2026-4631 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 07

Remote code execution in Cockpit's web interface allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the h

CVE-2026-4480 CRITICAL POC
9.0 May 26

Remote code execution in Samba's printing subsystem allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands via craft

CVE-2026-101258 HIGH POC
7.8 Oct 06

Ghostscript can execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of its process when it renders a crafted PostScript

CVE-2026-96889 HIGH POC
7.8 Sep 23

Use-after-free in librsvg during rendering of crafted SVG documents with nested XInclude directives and duplicate entity

CVE-2026-4775 HIGH POC
7.8 Mar 24

A signed integer overflow vulnerability exists in the libtiff library's putcontig8bitYCbCr44tile function that leads to

CVE-2026-114406 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Oct 21

The system CA trust store shipped in Red Hat's ca-certificates RPM packages includes eMudhra root authorities that signe

CVE-2026-18922 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 07

Authentication bypass in 389 Directory Server (shipped as Red Hat Directory Server 11-13 and within RHEL 6-10) lets remo

CVE-2026-14544 CRITICAL
9.8 Jul 03

Remote code execution and privilege escalation in HPLIP (HP Linux Imaging and Printing) affects the hpcups print filter

CVE-2026-76578 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 07

Unauthenticated privilege escalation in FreeIPA (Red Hat Identity Management) allows a remote attacker to gain genuine a

CVE-2026-102560 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 29

A heap buffer overflow exists in libsoup's WebSocket permessage-deflate compression path: when a very large outbound mes

CVE-2026-5121 HIGH
7.5 Mar 30

Remote code execution in libarchive on 32-bit systems allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code via spe

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Important
Product Status
SUSE Liberty Linux 10 Fixed
SUSE Liberty Linux 8 Fixed
SUSE Liberty Linux 9 Fixed

References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16118 ADVISORY https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8794-1 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/379939 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:64799 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:64800 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:66451 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:67956 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:70636 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71403 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71404 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:71405 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72394 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72395 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72399 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72470 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72475 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72476 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:72502 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73859 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73909 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73929 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73930 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73959 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73960 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73961 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:73962 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74359 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74360 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74361 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74362 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74363 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74364 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74365 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74450 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74458 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74459 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74460 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74461 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74462 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74463 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74674 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74677 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74678 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74679 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74681 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74683 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74685 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74687 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74688 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74771 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75652 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75654 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75655 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75657 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75658 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75659 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:75660 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:76042 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:79357 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:80756 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:81127 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82059 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82061 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82066 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82304 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82322 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82336 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82347 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82354 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82368 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82371 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82372 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82415 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82857 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:82888 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:92449 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:92452 REF https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16118 REF https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2501732 REF https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/xdgmime/-/work_items/41

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy