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CVE Record

CVE-2026-2048: 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-28591.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-2048 is a high-severity GIMP flaw in XWD image handling. A malicious file or page could trigger memory corruption and run code as the user running GIMP. The source bundle names GIMP 3.2.0-RC1 as affected. Exploitation requires user interaction, and the bundle does not show known active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for user workstations that handle external media files. This is not a wormable server issue, but successful exploitation could compromise a user session and support follow-on access.

Technical view

The flaw is an out-of-bounds write, CWE-787, in GIMP's XWD parser caused by insufficient validation of user-supplied data. A crafted XWD file can write beyond an allocated buffer, potentially allowing code execution in the current process. CVSS is 7.8 with no privileges required and user interaction required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on workstations or image-processing environments running GIMP 3.2.0-RC1, especially where users open externally supplied image files. The bundle does not prove broader version impact beyond the listed affected version.

Exploitation context

The source states a target must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. KEV is false, and no provided source states active exploitation. Treat this as practical phishing or file-delivery risk, not confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.

Researcher notes

Key evidence comes from ZDI and CVE metadata. The bundle identifies XWD parsing, out-of-bounds write, GIMP 3.2.0-RC1, CVSS 7.8, and Red Hat advisory references. Fixed-version detail is not included in the prompt, so confirm through linked vendor advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory GIMP installations and identify any 3.2.0-RC1 deployments.
  • Apply vendor or distribution updates referenced by GIMP and Red Hat advisories.
  • Avoid opening untrusted XWD files until systems are updated.
  • Review vendor guidance for exact fixed versions and supported packages.
  • Limit high-risk file handling to isolated workstations where feasible.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed GIMP versions on endpoints and build images.
  • Check whether users process external XWD or unknown image files.
  • Verify applicable Red Hat errata status for managed Linux fleets.
  • Review security tooling for suspicious GIMP crashes or file-open events.
  • Document any systems where update status cannot be confirmed.
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-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-2026-2048 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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-2048Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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 XWD file parsing vulnerability
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-02-20T23:01:55.316Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-02-20T22:23:51.039Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GIMPGIMP3.2.0-RC1unknown
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