CVE-2026-2045 in GIMP
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2026
GIMP XWD File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write 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 XWD files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-28265.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2026
The CVE-2026-2045 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition within the GIMP image processing software that enables remote code execution through malicious XWD file parsing. This vulnerability resides in the XWD file format handler, which is responsible for reading and processing X Window System XWD (X Window Dump) image files. The flaw manifests when GIMP attempts to parse malformed XWD files, specifically failing to validate the size and structure of user-supplied data before performing memory operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions where an application writes data past the end of a buffer, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious XWD files through web browsers, email attachments, or other delivery mechanisms without requiring local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the XWD file parsing process where GIMP allocates memory buffers based on header information provided in the XWD file. When the file contains malformed or oversized dimensions, the application fails to validate these values against the allocated buffer boundaries, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the intended memory limits. This memory corruption can overwrite critical program data, function pointers, or return addresses, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the GIMP process. The requirement for user interaction through visiting a malicious page or opening a malicious file aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for persistence through user interaction. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw indicates that successful exploitation can occur without local system access, making it particularly dangerous for web-based attacks and automated exploit delivery systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2026-2045 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity violations. Since GIMP is widely used for image editing and graphic design work, attackers can leverage this vulnerability in various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, and targeted attacks against creative professionals who frequently handle external image files. The vulnerability affects the current process context, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation depending on the execution environment and user permissions. Additionally, the out-of-bounds write condition could potentially cause application crashes or denial of service scenarios, making it a valuable target for both persistent attacks and opportunistic exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in the core image parsing functionality of GIMP means that any application or service that relies on GIMP's libraries for image processing could be indirectly affected, creating a broader attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-2045 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Users should immediately update to patched versions of GIMP where available, as this vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can be exploited without user awareness. System administrators should implement network-level restrictions on XWD file types and consider sandboxing GIMP execution environments to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The fix should include comprehensive input validation that verifies all buffer sizes and dimensions against allocated memory boundaries, implementing bounds checking and proper error handling for malformed XWD files. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious XWD file handling activities and unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted image processing software and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly suitable for automated exploitation, so defensive measures should include network-based intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malicious XWD file patterns and anomalous parsing behavior.