GIMP DDS Parser Heap Overflow in DDS File Handling
CVE-2026-42170 Published on August 8, 2026
Gimp: gimp dds plug-in heap-based buffer overflow via bpp mismatch in load_layer() (ddsread.c)
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the GIMP DDS (DirectDraw Surface) file parser. When a crafted DDS file declares a D3D9 pixel format but sets a lower bits-per-pixel (bpp) value in the header, the loader allocates an undersized heap buffer. Subsequent pixel data consumption at the real format's stride causes a write past the heap buffer boundary, leading to heap metadata corruption and potential code execution.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-42170 is exploitable with local system access, requires user interaction. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.
Timeline
Reported to Red Hat.
Made public. 102 days later.
Weakness Type
Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
The software does not correctly calculate the size to be used when allocating a buffer, which could lead to a buffer overflow.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-42170
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