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CVE Record

CVE-2026-2045: GIMP XWD File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

GIMP XWD File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write 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 XWD files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-28265.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-2045 is a high-severity GIMP flaw in XWD image handling. A victim must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page that causes GIMP to parse hostile content. Successful exploitation could run code as the user running GIMP.

Executive priority

Prioritize patching managed workstations that use GIMP for image intake or content review. This is not described as actively exploited, but code execution through user-opened files is a credible business risk.

Technical view

The flaw is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in GIMP XWD parsing caused by insufficient validation of user-supplied data. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8 with user interaction required, no privileges required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on endpoints or workstations with GIMP 3.0.6 installed, especially where users handle externally supplied images or XWD files. The source bundle does not prove exposure for other GIMP versions.

Exploitation context

The provided sources say remote attackers can exploit this only with user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. KEV is false, and the bundle provides no cited evidence of active exploitation.

Researcher notes

Treat version scope carefully. The bundle identifies GIMP 3.0.6 and includes a GNOME commit plus Red Hat advisories, but does not provide complete cross-platform fixed-version mapping or exploit-in-the-wild evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply GIMP or distribution updates referenced by vendor and Red Hat advisories.
  • Check GNOME GIMP and Red Hat guidance for fixed package versions.
  • Avoid opening untrusted XWD files until patched.
  • Restrict external image handling on systems where GIMP is installed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory endpoints and packages for GIMP 3.0.6.
  • Confirm whether installed builds include GNOME commit 68b27dfb1cbd9b3f22d7fa624dbab8647ee5f275.
  • Review Red Hat advisories for applicable affected products and package status.
  • Check file-association and workflow exposure to untrusted XWD content.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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-787: 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-2026-2045 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
7.8 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/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
7.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9zdi
7.3CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.35.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.3High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-2045Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 out-of-bounds write in XWD file parsing
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-02-20T23:01:40.431Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-02-20T22:23:32.645Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GIMPGIMP3.0.6unknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-787

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

CWE-787 · source CWE mapping

Out-of-bounds Write

Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs