CVE-2026-2050: GIMP HDR File Parsing RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-2050 Overview

CVE-2026-2050 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in GIMP that occurs during the parsing of High Dynamic Range (HDR) image files. The flaw resides in the GEGL image processing library used by GIMP. Attackers can leverage this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: the target must open a malicious HDR file or visit a page that delivers one.

The vulnerability was reported through the Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative as ZDI-CAN-28266 and assigned advisory ZDI-26-282. It is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow).

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running GIMP, enabling full compromise of user data and potential lateral movement.

Affected Products

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
GEGL (Generic Graphics Library) — HDR file parsing component
Downstream Linux distributions and packagers bundling vulnerable GIMP/GEGL versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-2050 published to NVD
2026-06-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-2050

Vulnerability Analysis

The defect exists in the HDR file parser within GEGL, the image processing library that backs GIMP. HDR is a Radiance image format that stores high dynamic range pixel data using a run-length encoded scanline structure. The parser reads attacker-controlled length fields from the file header and scanline metadata. It then copies pixel data into a heap-allocated buffer without verifying that the supplied length fits within the destination allocation.

When a crafted HDR file specifies an oversized data length, the copy operation writes past the end of the heap buffer. This corrupts adjacent heap metadata and neighboring allocations. An attacker who controls the overflowed bytes can influence function pointers, vtables, or other heap structures to redirect execution. The result is arbitrary code execution within the GIMP process.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing bounds validation between the size declared in HDR header fields and the actual destination buffer capacity. The parser trusts attacker-supplied length values and proceeds directly to a memory copy operation. This is a textbook [CWE-122] heap-based buffer overflow.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the victim to open a malicious .hdr file in GIMP or in any application that invokes GEGL to render HDR content. Delivery vectors include email attachments, file-sharing services, and web pages that prompt users to download image assets. The attack requires user interaction but no privileges, and executes locally in the user's session.

No exploitation code is publicly available. The vulnerability mechanics are documented in the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-26-282 and the upstream fix in the GEGL GitLab Merge Request.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2050

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by gimp or gimp-2.x such as shells (/bin/sh, bash, cmd.exe, powershell.exe) or scripting interpreters.
GIMP process crashes with SIGSEGV or heap corruption signatures recorded by systemd-coredump, Windows Error Reporting, or macOS CrashReporter when opening .hdr files.
HDR files arriving via email or downloads with anomalously large header length fields or malformed Radiance signatures.

Detection Strategies

Monitor for GIMP processes opening files from temporary or user-download directories followed by network connections or process injection activity.
Correlate file-open telemetry against GIMP version inventory to identify users running unpatched builds.
Hunt for write operations to executable memory regions or unexpected memory protection changes within the GIMP process address space.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint behavioral monitoring on workstations used by designers, marketing teams, and other heavy GIMP users.
Log process creation events with command-line arguments to capture HDR file paths passed to GIMP.
Alert on GIMP processes performing outbound network connections, which is atypical for normal image editing workflows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2050

Immediate Actions Required

Update GIMP and the underlying GEGL library to the patched versions distributed by the GNOME project and your operating system vendor.
Restrict opening of HDR files from untrusted sources until patches are deployed across all endpoints.
Inventory all systems with GIMP installed, including developer workstations and shared media production hosts.

Patch Information

The upstream fix is tracked in the GEGL GitLab Merge Request 241, which adds proper length validation before the heap copy in the HDR parser. Apply vendor-supplied updates from your Linux distribution, Flatpak, Snap, macOS, or Windows package source as soon as they are available. See the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-26-282 for coordinated disclosure details.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine .hdr and .pic Radiance files at the email gateway and web proxy until patching is complete.
Configure file associations so HDR files do not open automatically in GIMP for end users.
Run GIMP under reduced privileges or within a sandbox such as Flatpak with restricted filesystem access to limit the impact of exploitation.

bash

# Configuration example: verify installed GIMP and GEGL versions
gimp --version
dpkg -l | grep -E 'gimp|gegl'   # Debian/Ubuntu
rpm -qa | grep -E 'gimp|gegl'   # RHEL/Fedora
flatpak list | grep -i gimp     # Flatpak installations