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CVE Record

CVE-2026-2044: GIMP PGM File Parsing Uninitialized Memory Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

GIMP PGM File Parsing Uninitialized Memory 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 PGM files. The issue results from the lack of proper initialization of memory prior to accessing it. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-28158.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-2044 is a high-severity GIMP flaw in PGM image parsing. A victim must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page, but successful exploitation could run attacker code as the current user.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for workstations and content-processing systems that handle external images. The business risk is code execution after user interaction, not a wormable network attack.

Technical view

The flaw is CWE-908: uninitialized memory use during PGM parsing in GIMP. The source bundle identifies GIMP 3.0.6 as affected and assigns CVSS 3.1 score 8.8 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Primary exposure is endpoints or workflows using GIMP 3.0.6 to open PGM or untrusted image content. Red Hat advisories are referenced, so organizations should also check relevant Red Hat package status.

Exploitation context

The bundle reports remote code execution requiring user interaction. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not state active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

ZDI attributes this to PGM parser uninitialized memory and references ZDI-CAN-28158. The bundle does not include exploit details or a named fixed GIMP version, so validation should stay source-based.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor updates from GIMP/GNOME or Red Hat where applicable.
  • Avoid opening untrusted PGM files until remediation is confirmed.
  • Restrict GIMP use in automated pipelines handling external images.
  • Monitor vendor advisories for the fixed package or release details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems with GIMP installed, especially version 3.0.6.
  • Check Red Hat advisory applicability for managed Linux fleets.
  • Confirm whether workflows ingest PGM files from external sources.
  • Verify users cannot open untrusted image attachments on vulnerable hosts.
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-908: 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-2026-2044 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-2026-2044Attack 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 uninitialized memory in PGM file parsing
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-02-20T23:01:37.259Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-02-20T22:23:23.266Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GIMPGIMP3.0.6unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-908

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

CWE-908 · source CWE mapping

Use of Uninitialized Resource

Use of Uninitialized Resource represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs