python-pillow Pillow up to 12.x MPO/DCX Frame MpoImageFile.seek/DcxImageFile.seek resource consumption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in python-pillow Pillow up to 12.x. Affected by this issue is the function MpoImageFile.seek/DcxImageFile.seek of the component MPO/DCX Frame Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to resource consumption. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-96636. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in python-pillow Pillow up to 12.x. This vulnerability affects the function MpoImageFile.seek/DcxImageFile.seek of the component MPO/DCX Frame Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource consumption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-400. The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource, thereby enabling an actor to influence the amount of resources consumed, eventually leading to the exhaustion of available resources. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

Pillow is a Python imaging library. Prior to 13.0.0, MpoImageFile.seek() and DcxImageFile.seek() reparse later MPO or DCX frames and replace self._size without rerunning Image._decompression_bomb_check(). A crafted multi-frame image can use a tiny first frame to pass Image.open() and then declare an over-limit later frame. Normal frame iteration through seek(), load(), or ImageSequence.Iterator can decode that frame and commit hundreds of megabytes or more, causing memory-exhaustion denial of service. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-96636 since 09/23/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

Upgrading to version 13.0.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Vendor

• python-pillow

Name

• Pillow

Version

• 12.x

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/

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CPE 2.2info

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