CVE-2026-18302
Received Received - Intake

Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GIMP TIF File Parsing

Publication date: 2026-08-20

Last updated on: 2026-08-20

Assigner: Zero Day Initiative

Description
GIMP TIF File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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 TIF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-29398.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-20
Last Modified
2026-08-20
Generated
2026-08-20
AI Q&A
2026-08-20
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-18302
EUVD
EUVD-2026-63451

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
gnome gimp *
gnome gimp From 2.10.0 (inc) to 2.10.30 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-122 A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().

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Executive Summary

This is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in GIMP's TIF file parsing. It occurs when GIMP fails to validate the length of user-supplied data before copying it to a heap buffer. Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into opening a malicious TIF file or visiting a malicious page, allowing arbitrary code execution on the affected system.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires monitoring for suspicious TIF file processing in GIMP. Check for crashes or unusual behavior when opening TIF files. Review GIMP logs for heap corruption errors. Use system monitoring tools to detect unexpected code execution during file parsing.

Impact Analysis

If you use GIMP and open a malicious TIF file or visit a malicious page, an attacker could execute arbitrary code on your system. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further attacks within your network. The impact depends on your system's privileges and security settings.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or data breaches, which may violate GDPR (data protection) or HIPAA (health information privacy) if sensitive data is exposed. Organizations must ensure systems are patched to maintain compliance and prevent regulatory penalties.

Mitigation Strategies

Update GIMP to the latest patched version immediately. Avoid opening TIF files from untrusted sources. Disable automatic TIF file association in GIMP if possible. Monitor vendor advisories for additional mitigation steps.

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