CVE-2026-18304
Received Received - Intake

GIMP TIF File Parsing Integer Overflow RCE

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-18304, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-20

Last updated on: 2026-08-20

Assigner: Zero Day Initiative

Description

GIMP TIF File Parsing Integer 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 user-supplied data, which can result in an integer overflow before allocating a buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-29403.

CVSS Scores

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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
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
gnome gimp *
gnome gimp From 2026-04-17 (inc) to 2026-07-29 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-190 The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is an integer overflow in GIMP's TIF file parsing that can lead to remote code execution. It occurs when GIMP fails to properly validate user-supplied data in TIF files, causing an integer overflow before buffer allocation. Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page.

Detection Guidance

Detection primarily involves monitoring for suspicious TIF file processing or unusual GIMP behavior. Check GIMP logs for crashes during TIF file parsing. Use file integrity monitoring tools to detect unauthorized changes to GIMP binaries. Scan systems for recently opened TIF files from untrusted sources.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on your system with the same privileges as the GIMP application. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further malware installation. Since exploitation requires user interaction, the risk is higher if you frequently open files from untrusted sources.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, which may violate GDPR's data protection requirements or HIPAA's security rules for protected health information. Organizations affected by a breach could face legal penalties, reputational damage, and compliance violations.

Mitigation Strategies

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

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