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GIMP EUVDEUVD-2026-63450

| CVE-2026-18301 HIGH
Integer Overflow or Wraparound (CWE-190)
2026-08-20 zdi GHSA-282j-q335-6rxf
7.8
CVSS 3.0 · Vendor: zdi
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Craft malicious PSD file with overflow-triggering values
  2. Delivery
    Deliver to target via phishing or malicious download
  3. Exploit
    Target opens file in GIMP 3.2.2
  4. Execution
    Integer overflow occurs in PSD parser before buffer allocation
  5. Persist
    Undersized heap buffer is overflowed with attacker-controlled data
  6. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code as current user

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Integer overflow checks
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

The target must actively open the malicious PSD file in GIMP 3.2.2 - no special GIMP configuration, plugin, or non-default feature needs to be enabled, as PSD file parsing is built-in core functionality. The attacker requires no account or credentials on the target system (PR:N). Exploitation is constrained by the mandatory user interaction requirement (UI:R): the attacker must socially engineer the victim into opening the crafted file, typically via phishing, a malicious download link, or a compromised asset-sharing platform. Code execution is bounded to the GIMP process running as the current user; no direct privilege escalation to root or other users is implied by the vulnerability itself. Exploitation is further limited to platforms where GIMP 3.2.2 is installed - it is not a server-reachable service.

Impact

The CVSS 7.8 score is consistent with a client-side code execution vulnerability: AV:L reflects the file-open exploitation mechanism, AC:L indicates no race condition or special configuration is required, PR:N confirms the attacker needs no account or credential on the target system, and UI:R captures the mandatory victim interaction. C:H/I:H/A:H reflects total compromise of the GIMP process. No EPSS score was included in available intelligence data, which limits probabilistic exploitation forecasting. CISA KEV status is absent, and no proof-of-concept code has been identified, meaning active or widespread exploitation is not confirmed at this time. An upstream fix has been submitted to the GNOME GitLab repository but a formally released patch version has not been independently confirmed, leaving users on GIMP 3.2.2 without a clear upgrade path. Overall, this is a genuine high-severity risk for users regularly opening PSD files from untrusted sources, but the file-open social engineering requirement meaningfully constrains opportunistic mass exploitation.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker engineers a malicious PSD file crafted with dimension or channel count values designed to trigger the integer overflow in GIMP's PSD parsing routine. The file is delivered to a target graphic designer or photographer via a phishing email, malicious download site, or poisoned asset library, and when the victim opens it in GIMP 3.2.2, the arithmetic overflow produces an undersized heap allocation, heap corruption follows, and the attacker achieves code execution running with the victim's user-level privileges.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.5% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 20, 2026

Remote code execution in GIMP 3.2.2 is triggered when a victim opens a specially crafted PSD file, exploiting an integer overflow in the PSD parser that occurs before buffer allocation. Tracked by Zero Day Initiative as ZDI-CAN-29395 and rated CVSS 7.8, the flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code within the GIMP process context after inducing the target to open a malicious file. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and no active exploitation has been confirmed via CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

An upstream fix has been submitted via GNOME GitLab merge request 2772 (https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/merge_requests/2772); however, a formally released patched GIMP version is not confirmed from available intelligence data - this should be treated as an upstream fix available via commit rather than a shipped release. Users should monitor the official GIMP release channel (https://www.gimp.org/downloads/) and apply any update immediately upon availability. As compensating controls, avoid opening PSD files from untrusted or unknown sources, and where operationally feasible, run GIMP inside a sandbox such as Flatpak or Firejail to constrain any exploited process to a restricted namespace rather than the full user account - this limits the blast radius but does not prevent code execution within the sandbox.

Affected VersionsENISA

GIMP 3.2.2

Affected Packages

euvd gimp no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) version 3.2.2 is confirmed affected, identified by CPE cpe:2.3:a:gimp:gimp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. The vulnerability resides in GIMP's parser for the Adobe Photoshop Document (PSD) format, a complex multi-layer image format widely used in creative workflows. The root cause is CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound): when processing user-supplied dimension, size, or channel count data embedded in a PSD file, an arithmetic operation overflows before a heap buffer is allocated. This produces an undersized allocation; subsequent writes of actual PSD data into this buffer corrupt adjacent heap memory, enabling attacker-controlled data to overwrite heap metadata or function pointers and redirect execution. The CVSS local attack vector (AV:L) reflects that exploitation occurs entirely within the GIMP process initiated by the victim, not via a directly reachable network service.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (zdi) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

Local vector because exploitation requires victim to open a file; no attacker privileges needed; full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the GIMP process.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE HIGH
Red Hat 7.8 HIGH

Primary rating from Vendor (zdi).

CVSS VectorVendor: zdi

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

DescriptionCVE.org

GIMP PSD File Parsing Integer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GIMP. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PSD files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in an integer overflow before allocating a buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-29395.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

GIMP 3.2.2 contains a remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2026-18301, CVSS 7.8) triggered when users open malicious PSD files, allowing attackers to execute code within the application context. Organizations using GIMP for image processing or design work face compromise risk if users receive or access untrusted image files, potentially exposing sensitive data and system resources to unauthorized access.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Restrict GIMP to trusted file sources only; disable PSD file format support or restrict handling to internal files. Implement application sandboxing or container isolation for GIMP processes. Deploy content filtering to block PSD files from external email and file-sharing sources. Require user training to avoid opening image files from untrusted sources. Monitor vendor advisories weekly for patch availability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.5%
Top 61% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
popular open-source desktop image editor, rarely server-deployed
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment Vendor VulDB

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 0.5%
Patch available No
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Integer overflow occurs when an arithmetic operation produces a result that exceeds the maximum value a given integer type can store.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Important
Product Status
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP7 Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 Affected

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