EUVD-2026-52573
GHSA-xq2c-w9r3-rwr6
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local file-open triggers the flaw (AV:L); user must open the crafted file (UI:R); any low-privileged local account suffices (PR:L); successful heap overflow yields full process compromise (C:H/I:H/A:H).
Primary rating from Vendor (redhat).
CVSS VectorVendor: redhat
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
A heap-buffer-overflow vulnerability exists in the APNG (Animated PNG) file loader of GIMP. This flaw occurs when the fcTL width exceeds the IHDR width, leading to pixel data being written past the end of a heap allocation. Additionally, a heap-based buffer overflow exists in the DDS plug-in due to a BPP mismatch in the load_layer() function. Both vulnerabilities can be triggered by opening a specially crafted image file, potentially leading to code execution.
AnalysisAI
Heap-buffer-overflow vulnerabilities in GIMP's APNG file loader and DDS plug-in allow code execution when a user opens a specially crafted image file. The APNG flaw is triggered when the fcTL chunk width exceeds the IHDR width, causing pixel data to overwrite memory beyond the heap allocation; the DDS flaw stems from a bits-per-pixel mismatch in load_layer(). Both affect GIMP as packaged on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 through 9. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV.
Technical ContextAI
GIMP is a widely used open-source raster graphics editor shipped as part of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6-9 (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:red_hat:red_hat_enterprise_linux_{6,7,8,9}). The APNG loader parses the animation control chunk (fcTL) for per-frame dimensions; a failure to validate that fcTL.width does not exceed the IHDR (image header) width before allocating or writing pixel data constitutes an Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size (CWE-131). Similarly, the DDS (DirectDraw Surface) plug-in's load_layer() function does not reconcile differing bits-per-pixel values before copying layer data, producing a second CWE-131 condition. Both result in classic heap-buffer-overflows that, depending on heap layout, can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution under the context of the GIMP process.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch version is independently confirmed in the provided data; the Red Hat Bugzilla entry (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2461725) and CVE advisory (https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42169) should be monitored for updated GIMP package releases via RHEL errata. As a compensating control, restrict or remove the GIMP package from systems where image editing is not operationally required, reducing the attack surface entirely. On workstations where GIMP is necessary, instruct users not to open APNG or DDS files from untrusted or external sources, and consider configuring file-manager or mail-client policies to prompt before opening those file types. Applying SELinux enforcing mode (default on RHEL) provides a meaningful containment layer by limiting the blast radius of any successful heap exploitation to the GIMP process's SELinux domain context. Note that none of these mitigations eliminate the vulnerability; patching remains the definitive fix.
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View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: Important| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| SUSE Liberty Linux 9 | Fixed |
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