# CVE-2026-112402: Pillow double free in image transform operation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-112402-pillow-is-a-python-imaging-library-prior-to-13-0-0-pillow-can  
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-2026-112402 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-10-19

Pillow is a Python library for image processing used in countless applications to manipulate and transform images. A memory management flaw in the image transformation code can cause the process to crash or potentially corrupt memory when processing specially crafted image operations under memory pressure. An attacker who can trigger a large image transformation in a vulnerable application could crash it or potentially execute code.

Technologies: [pillow (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pillow), [Python Pillow Project Pillow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/python-pillow-project-pillow). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi), [Python Pillow Project](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/python-pillow-project).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-112402 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-112402 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-112402?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 19 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** pillow (PyPI) <= 12.3.0, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=13.0.0; Python Pillow Project Pillow prior to 13.0.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-112402?** Yes. pillow (PyPI): upgrade to 13.0.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-112402 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-112402?** Check whether you run pillow (PyPI) or Python Pillow Project Pillow at an affected version. 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

- pillow (PyPI): upgrade to 13.0.0 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "pillow>=13.0.0"
  ```


## Technical details

A double-free vulnerability exists in ImagingScaleAffine when handling Transform.EXTENT or scale-and-translate Transform.AFFINE operations with NEAREST resampling. The bug occurs when output image allocation succeeds but the per-column lookup table allocation fails; the error path incorrectly deletes image memory that the caller also frees. This requires an attacker to control Image.transform() calls and trigger the specific allocation failure sequence.

## Affected products

- Python Pillow Project Pillow prior to 13.0.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-112402
- BIT-PILLOW-2026-112402
- GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm
- PYSEC-2026-4331

## Timeline

- 2026-10-19: disclosed
- 2026-10-16: patched

## References

- [https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/commit/aafa6c75f7cdabb9f409a8aac7c780bea31d08d9](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/commit/aafa6c75f7cdabb9f409a8aac7c780bea31d08d9)
- [https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases/tag/13.0.0](https://github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases/tag/13.0.0)

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