# CVE-2026-42170: Gimp: gimp dds plug-in heap-based buffer overflow via bpp mismatch in load_layer() (ddsread.c)

Status: published. Published: 2026-08-08. Updated: 2026-11-04.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: Users should avoid opening untrusted DirectDraw Surface (DDS) image files with GIMP. As a general security practice, only process files from trusted sources. If GIMP is not essential, consider removing the `gimp` package to eliminate this attack vector. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (gimp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (gimp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (gimp:2.8/gimp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (gimp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## NVD configuration conditions

Affected CPE matches depend on the following AND/OR and negation conditions:

```json
[
  {
    "negate": false,
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "OR"
  }
]
```

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 7.8 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CVSS 3.1: 7.8 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: NVD: secalert@redhat.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.19% as of 2026-11-04; percentile 8.94%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-131

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42170 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2461726 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42170 (secalert@redhat.com; Vendor Advisory)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2461726 (secalert@redhat.com; Issue Tracking)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42170; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-04

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42170; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-04

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-42170; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated Not reported

Revision: 52f15a52a83576fbb8877da0fee1853d849fd205746d7118f0bc3be6c191a31e

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-42170

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