# CVE-2026-112258: GIMP use-after-free in XCF loader

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112258-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-the-xcf-loader-can-leave-a-dangling  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-19. Updated: 2026-10-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-112258 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-10-19

GIMP is a widely-used image editor that opens and edits XCF project files. A crafted XCF file can trigger a use-after-free memory corruption bug in GIMP's loader, crashing the application or potentially allowing arbitrary code execution when a user opens the malicious file.

Technologies: [Gimp](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gimp). Vendors: [Gimp](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gimp).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-112258 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-112258 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-112258?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 19 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** GIMP GIMP.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-112258?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Avoid opening untrusted XCF files until an update is available. If GIMP is unused, uninstall the application. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-112258 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-112258?** Check whether you run Gimp. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix


Avoid opening untrusted XCF files until an update is available. If GIMP is unused, uninstall the application.

## Technical details

The XCF loader leaves a dangling pointer in the linked-channels list when a channel with PROP_LINKED and PROP_SELECTION properties is destroyed, leading to a use-after-free (CWE-416). An attacker must trick a user into opening a specially crafted XCF file; exploitation then occurs in the user's security context without requiring elevated privileges.

## Affected products

- GIMP GIMP

## Timeline

- 2026-10-19: disclosed

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-112258](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-112258)

## Related threats

- [GIMP use-after-free in XCF path loader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112261-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-opening-a-crafted-xcf-that-selects-a)
- [GIMP integer overflow in file-pvr plug-in](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62439-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-an-integer-overflow-occurs-in-the-file)
- [GIMP heap buffer overflow in raw data export](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-106066-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-was-found-in-gimp-s-raw-data-export)
- [GIMP heap buffer overflow in GIF export](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-106064-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-was-found-in-gimp-s-gif-export-plug)
- [GIMP heap buffer overflow in DDS loader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-106062-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-was-found-in-gimp-s-directdraw)