CVE-2026-2044

Code execution via uninitialized PNMInfo structure

Published Feb 20, 2026 · Updated Feb 20, 2026

Use of uninitialized memory in GIMP 3.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted PGM file. The file-pnm loader allocates its PNMInfo structure without zeroing it, then accesses fields that retain uninitialized memory during PGM parsing. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs in the current GIMP process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.97%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of uninitialized memory in GIMP 3.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted PGM file. The file-pnm loader allocates its PNMInfo structure without zeroing it, then accesses fields that retain uninitialized memory during PGM parsing. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs in the current GIMP process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-2044
Published
Feb 20, 2026
Updated
Feb 20, 2026
Vendor
GIMP
Product
GIMP
Classifications
CWE-908, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GIMP · GIMPversion=3.0.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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