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CVE Record

CVE-2026-0797: GIMP ICO File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

GIMP ICO 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 ICO 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-28599.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A malicious ICO image can trigger a memory corruption bug in affected GIMP installations. If a user opens the file or visits a malicious page that hands it to GIMP, attacker code could run with that user's privileges.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on user workstations and creative teams that handle external images. The risk is high because successful exploitation could run attacker code, but exposure requires user interaction and evidence of active exploitation is not provided.

Technical view

CVE-2026-0797 is a heap-based buffer overflow in GIMP ICO parsing. The flaw is insufficient validation of user-supplied length data before copying into a heap buffer. ZDI rates it CVSS 8.8, network reachable with user interaction and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Known affected evidence in the bundle names GIMP 3.2.0-RC1. Exposure is most likely on workstations, image-processing workflows, or package sets that open untrusted ICO files with vulnerable GIMP builds.

Exploitation context

The bundle states remote code execution is possible, but user interaction is required. It does not cite active exploitation, and KEV is false, so active exploitation should not be assumed.

Researcher notes

The key issue is ICO parser length validation leading to heap overflow. The source bundle names ZDI-CAN-28599 and a GNOME commit, but does not provide exploit details. Validate by version/package state and patch provenance, not by reproducing the bug in production.

Mitigation direction

  • Update GIMP using vendor or distribution guidance where fixed packages are available.
  • Avoid GIMP 3.2.0-RC1 for untrusted ICO files until remediated.
  • Treat externally supplied icon files as untrusted content.
  • Use OS sandboxing or workstation isolation for risky image review workflows.
  • Review Red Hat errata if using downstream packaged GIMP.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed GIMP versions across endpoints and build images.
  • Identify systems running GIMP 3.2.0-RC1 or affected downstream packages.
  • Confirm fixed vendor commit or distribution errata is present.
  • Check file association policies for ICO files on managed endpoints.
  • Review security tooling for suspicious GIMP crashes or spawned child processes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-120: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-122: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-0797 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
16Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9redhat-SADP
7.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9zdi

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-0797Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPgimp: GIMP: Remote Code Execution via ICO File Parsing Vulnerability
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-02-20T23:01:46.181Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-02-20T22:10:04.716Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GIMPGIMP3.2.0-RC1unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-120CWE-122

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.