CVE-2026-119528 in GIMP
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
A flaw was found in GIMP. The PSD plug-in’s image resource header loader uses an incorrect destination size when copying a converted resource name into a fixed stack buffer. Opening a crafted PSD file can cause a stack-based buffer overflow, leading to a crash and potentially arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified in GIMP represents a critical security flaw within the image processing engine, specifically targeting the plug-in responsible for handling Photoshop Document files. This component is tasked with parsing complex binary structures inherent to PSD formats, which include various metadata blocks known as image resources. During the initialization phase of loading these resources, the software attempts to copy converted resource names from an external source into a fixed-size buffer allocated on the program stack. The core technical deficiency lies in the failure of the loader to accurately calculate or verify the destination size before performing this memory operation. This oversight results in a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition where data written exceeds the boundaries of the pre-allocated memory space, overwriting adjacent stack variables and potentially corrupting critical control flow information such as return addresses.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution. While opening a maliciously crafted PSD file typically results in application instability or a denial-of-service condition manifested by a crash, sophisticated attackers can exploit the memory corruption to redirect program execution. By carefully crafting the input data to overwrite specific stack locations with shellcode pointers, an attacker could achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the user running GIMP. This poses significant risks including unauthorized access to system resources, installation of malware, or further lateral movement in a networked environment where users frequently exchange image files from untrusted sources.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions arising from insufficient bounds checking during memory copy operations. The attack vector is classified under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203, specifically the exploitation of vulnerable applications for initial access or execution. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in open-source image manipulation software because they often process files provided by third parties without rigorous validation, assuming a level of trust that does not exist in adversarial contexts. The lack of proper input sanitization and length verification allows malformed data to bypass standard safety checks embedded within the application logic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating GIMP to versions where the PSD plug-in has been patched with robust bounds checking mechanisms. Developers must ensure that all buffer copy operations verify source lengths against destination capacities before execution, utilizing safe string handling functions or explicit size validation routines. Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening image files from untrusted origins and consider employing sandboxing techniques to isolate the application environment. Security teams monitoring for this vulnerability should look for indicators of exploitation such as abnormal memory access patterns or crashes occurring specifically during PSD file parsing operations in network logs or system event viewers.