CVE-2026-82330 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2026
A flaw was found in the file-pvr plugin in GIMP. When processing a specially crafted PVR image file, the VQ (compressed) decoder does not properly perform memory bounds checking. This missing validation results in a heap out-of-bounds read. This issue can result in an application crash, leading to a denial of service or a limited information disclosure of heap memory contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2026
The vulnerability identified within the file-pvr plugin for GIMP represents a critical failure in input validation during the processing of compressed texture data. Specifically, when handling PVR (PowerVR Texture) files that utilize VQ (Vector Quantization) compression, the decoder fails to enforce strict memory bounds checking before accessing heap-allocated buffers. This technical flaw allows an attacker who can trick a user into opening a maliciously crafted image file to trigger out-of-bounds read operations on the application's heap memory space. The root cause lies in the absence of rigorous boundary verification logic within the VQ decompression routine, which assumes that input data structures are well-formed and do not exceed expected dimensions or lengths without explicit validation checks against allocated buffer sizes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability primarily manifests as a denial of service condition due to application instability. When the decoder attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated heap segment, it triggers segmentation faults or similar critical errors that cause GIMP to crash immediately. This disrupts workflow and prevents users from accessing their projects or continuing image editing tasks. However, the implications extend significantly beyond simple availability loss. The out-of-bounds read constitutes a potential information disclosure vector, as the application may inadvertently expose sensitive contents of adjacent heap memory blocks. These memory regions can contain previously processed data, user credentials stored in temporary buffers, cryptographic keys, or other proprietary assets depending on what was recently allocated and not yet overwritten by subsequent operations.
This flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-125, which describes Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end of a buffer. In the context of modern attack frameworks, this vulnerability maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083, File and Directory Discovery, if used for reconnaissance, or more critically T1005, Data from Local System, as it facilitates unauthorized access to memory contents that should remain isolated within the application process. The exploitation requires social engineering elements such as convincing a victim to open a specific file type, but once triggered, the impact is immediate and deterministic regarding system stability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve both immediate patching by software vendors and defensive practices for end-users. Developers must implement rigorous bounds checking in all image decoding routines, ensuring that every memory access is validated against the allocated size of the target buffer before execution. Input sanitization should be enforced at the earliest stage of file parsing to reject malformed or oversized PVR structures before they reach the VQ decoder logic. For users and system administrators, applying vendor-provided security updates promptly is essential to close this gap in memory safety. Additionally, employing application whitelisting or restricting the execution privileges of image processing software can limit the potential impact if an exploit attempt occurs by reducing the accessibility of sensitive heap data outside the immediate process context.