CVE-2026-18309
Received Received - Intake

GIMP APNG File Parsing Integer Overflow RCE

Publication date: 2026-08-20

Last updated on: 2026-08-20

Assigner: Zero Day Initiative

Description
GIMP APNG 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 APNG 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-29401.

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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-2026-18309
EUVD
EUVD-2026-63458

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
gnome gimp *
gimp gimp to 2026-07-29 (inc)
gimp gimp to 2.10.34 (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.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is an integer overflow in GIMP's APNG file parsing that can lead to remote code execution. It occurs due to insufficient validation of user-supplied data, causing an overflow before buffer allocation. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking if your GIMP version is vulnerable. Inspect installed GIMP version using commands like 'gimp --version' or 'apt list --installed | grep gimp' on Debian-based systems. Compare the version against the patched release mentioned in GIMP's commit or advisory.

Impact Analysis

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

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating GDPR's data protection requirements or HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information. Organizations may face compliance penalties if exploited due to insufficient patching or controls.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update GIMP to the latest patched version as recommended in the advisory. Avoid opening APNG files from untrusted sources. If updating is not possible, consider temporarily disabling APNG file parsing in GIMP or using alternative image viewers until patched.

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