CVE-2025-10921

A heap-based buffer-overflow in GIMP’s HDR (RGBE) file parsing (CVE-2025-10921 / ZDI-25-910) allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code when a user opens or is tricked into previewing a malicious HDR file. The flaw is caused by missing length validation before copying user-supplied HDR data into a heap buffer, enabling memory corruption and control of program flow.

This vulnerability is Important because it enables remote code execution in the context of the user’s GIMP process with relatively low prerequisites: an attacker only needs to supply a crafted HDR file and get the victim to open or preview it. Heap overflows in image-parsing code are especially dangerous because image loaders commonly operate on untrusted files and often run in the same process as the application’s UI and plugins; a successful overwrite of heap metadata or adjacent control data can lead to arbitrary instruction-pointer control (RCE). Although exploitation requires user interaction (opening/preview), the attack surface is large (attachments, downloads, web previews) and the payload can execute with the user’s privileges, potentially leading to system compromise or lateral movement if the user has elevated access.

The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.

No mitigation is currently available that meets Red Hat Product Security’s standards for usability, deployment, applicability, or stability.