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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 vulnerability in XWD image parsing. A malicious file or webpage-delivered file could cause memory corruption and potentially run code as the user. The evidence requires user interaction and does not show known active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for teams that use GIMP to process external images. The risk is high because successful exploitation could run code as the user, but urgency is moderated by required user interaction and no confirmed active exploitation in the supplied sources.

Technical view

The flaw is an out-of-bounds write in GIMP's XWD file parser caused by insufficient validation of user-supplied data. ZDI describes possible arbitrary code execution in the current process. The bundle lists GIMP 3.2.0-RC1 as affected and maps the weakness to CWE-787.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant where GIMP is installed and users open untrusted XWD images or visit pages that can prompt malicious file handling. The affected version data is limited to GIMP 3.2.0-RC1 with default status unknown.

Exploitation context

The source bundle says exploitation requires user interaction: the target must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence is incomplete on fixed upstream versions and full affected range. ZDI identifies XWD parsing validation failure and out-of-bounds write. The GNOME merge request and Red Hat advisories should be used to confirm patch state before asserting remediation completeness.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply applicable GIMP or operating system vendor updates from referenced advisories.
  • Avoid opening XWD files from untrusted sources.
  • Handle untrusted image samples in isolated, disposable environments.
  • Check GIMP and Red Hat guidance for fixed versions and package status.
  • Warn users who process external images about this specific file-handling risk.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems with GIMP installed, especially pre-release 3.2.0-RC1.
  • Check package versions against GIMP and Red Hat advisories.
  • Review file-handling workflows for untrusted XWD image exposure.
  • Confirm endpoint controls flag suspicious downloaded image files.
  • Track whether vendor advisories add fixed version details.
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.

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