---
id: CVE-2026-42170
title: >-
  A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the GIMP DDS (DirectDraw
  Surface) file parser
summary: >-
  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
  u…
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-131
published: '2026-08-08'
updated: '2026-08-08'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42170'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42170'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2461726'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
tags:
  - nvd
ingestedAt: '2026-08-09T05:32:49.701Z'
epss: 0.00192
epssPercentile: 0.07797
---

## Overview

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

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.