CVE-2026-112259 Overview
CVE-2026-112259 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability [CWE-476] in the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). The flaw triggers when GIMP imports a crafted SBZ palette file that omits the color-model attribute. During subsequent string comparison, GIMP dereferences a NULL pointer and crashes.
Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, since a victim must open or import the malicious palette file. Successful exploitation causes denial of service of the GIMP application. The vulnerability does not expose data or allow code execution.
Critical Impact
A crafted SBZ palette file can crash GIMP on import, producing a reliable denial-of-service condition for users who process untrusted palette files.
Affected Products
- GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
- Red Hat distributions shipping GIMP (see Red Hat advisory for tracked streams)
- Downstream Linux distributions packaging the affected GIMP release
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-10-19 - CVE-2026-112259 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-10-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-112259
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in GIMP's SBZ palette import routine. SBZ palette files describe color sets using XML-style attributes, including a color-model attribute that identifies the color space of each entry. GIMP's parser expects this attribute to be present and passes its value directly into a string comparison function.
When the attribute is missing, the parser retrieves a NULL pointer and forwards it to the comparison routine. The comparison function dereferences the pointer without a prior NULL check, triggering a segmentation fault. GIMP terminates immediately, discarding any unsaved work in the current session.
The issue aligns with CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference). It is a reliability flaw rather than a memory-safety flaw that could be weaponized for arbitrary code execution.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input validation on an optional XML attribute. The SBZ parser treats color-model as mandatory in its data flow while the file format does not enforce its presence. Absence of a defensive NULL check before the string comparison converts a malformed-input condition into an application crash.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts an SBZ palette file without the color-model attribute and delivers it through email, download, or shared storage. When the victim imports the palette in GIMP, the application crashes. There is no remote network path and no privilege escalation.
The vulnerability cannot be exploited to read memory, write memory, or execute code. Impact is limited to availability of the GIMP process.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-112259
Indicators of Compromise
- SBZ palette files received from untrusted sources that lack the color-model XML attribute
- Unexpected GIMP process termination (SIGSEGV) immediately after a palette import action
- Core dump files generated by the gimp binary following palette file handling
Detection Strategies
- Inspect SBZ files for the presence of the color-model attribute before opening them in GIMP
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for crash events on the gimp process correlated with recent file-open activity
- Hunt for inbound email attachments and web downloads with the .sbz extension originating from untrusted senders
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable application crash reporting on workstations where GIMP is installed to surface repeated DoS attempts
- Log file-open and import events in creative-workflow environments to correlate crashes with specific palette files
- Review package inventory to identify systems still running unpatched GIMP builds referenced in the Red Hat advisory
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-112259
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply vendor patches for GIMP as they become available through your Linux distribution or upstream project
- Avoid importing SBZ palette files received from unknown or untrusted sources
- Validate SBZ files include a color-model attribute before loading them in GIMP
Patch Information
Refer to the Red Hat CVE-2026-112259 Advisory and Red Hat Bugzilla Entry #2555595 for patch status across Red Hat Enterprise Linux streams. Users on other distributions should track their package maintainer's security announcements for the fixed GIMP version.
Workarounds
- Restrict GIMP use to palette files from internal, trusted repositories until a patched version is deployed
- Pre-screen SBZ palette files with a lightweight XML validator that confirms the color-model attribute is present
- Run GIMP in a sandboxed environment such as Flatpak with limited file access to reduce exposure to malicious inputs
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
