CVE-2026-104064 in Scribus
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Scribus before 1.6.7 contains an integer overflow vulnerability in the scimgdataloader_tiff TIFF loader that allows attackers to trigger a heap overflow via crafted tile dimensions. Attackers can supply a tiled TIFF with large tile width, height and sample values for a user to import, corrupting heap memory to crash Scribus or execute code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified in versions of Scribus prior to 1.6.7 represents a critical security flaw within the application's image processing subsystem, specifically located in the scimgdataloader_tiff component responsible for handling Tagged Image File Format files. This defect is classified as an integer overflow that subsequently leads to a heap-based buffer overflow. The root cause lies in the improper validation and arithmetic operations performed on tile dimensions when parsing TIFF metadata. When the application processes a specially crafted TIFF file, it fails to correctly account for the size of data structures required based on the specified width, height, and sample values. This miscalculation results in an allocation of insufficient memory space relative to the actual amount of data that needs to be stored or processed during subsequent operations.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow or wraparound errors, and CWE-787, which pertains to out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities on heap memory. The attacker exploits this by constructing a malicious TIFF file containing tile dimensions that are sufficiently large to trigger the arithmetic error during the loading phase. Because Scribus is designed as an interactive desktop publishing application, users frequently import external image assets into their documents. This workflow creates a direct attack vector where a user simply opening or importing the crafted file can initiate the vulnerable code path without requiring any additional interaction beyond standard usage patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution and denial of service conditions. By corrupting heap memory, an attacker can manipulate the application's control flow, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Scribus. This compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the system on which the vulnerable software is installed. Additionally, even if exploitation for code execution fails due to modern mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization or Data Execution Prevention, the memory corruption will inevitably cause the application to crash, resulting in a denial of service that disrupts productivity and potentially leads to data loss if unsaved work is involved.
This vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Side Attack, as it relies on tricking a user into opening a malicious file within a client application. It also relates to T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, if the code execution is leveraged to run further payloads. To mitigate this risk, organizations must ensure that all instances of Scribus are updated to version 1.6.7 or later, where these integer validation checks have been corrected. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, implementing strict file type filtering and sandboxing for applications handling untrusted input can reduce the attack surface. Users should be educated on the risks associated with opening image files from unknown sources, although technical controls remain the primary defense against such exploitation attempts.