CVE-2026-112892: Pillow MSP RLE decoder memory exhaustion

CVE-2026-112892 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-10-19

Pillow is a Python image processing library used to read and manipulate images in applications. The MSP image format decoder can be tricked into consuming unbounded memory when processing a crafted image file, causing the application to run out of memory and crash even if the image's declared size passes safety checks. An attacker can exploit this by providing a specially crafted MSP image to any application that uses Pillow to load images.

Technologies: pillow (PyPI), Python Pillow Pillow. Vendors: PyPI, Python Pillow.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-112892 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-112892 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-112892?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 19 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
pillow (PyPI) >= 4.1.0, < 13.0.0, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=4.1.0,fixed=13.0.0; Python Pillow Pillow 4.1.0 to 12.x.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-112892?
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-2026-112892 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-112892?
Check whether you run pillow (PyPI) or Python Pillow 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
    pip install "pillow>=13.0.0"

Technical details

The MSP RLE decoder in Pillow versions 4.1.0 through 12.x writes run-length encoded output to a BytesIO buffer without enforcing limits tied to the declared image dimensions, allowing an attacker-controlled MSP file to bypass decompression-bomb checks. The vulnerability exists in the MspImagePlugin's decode function when processing MSP files. An attacker can supply a crafted MSP image to trigger unbounded memory allocation, causing denial of service; this requires only the ability to provide a file to be processed by a Pillow-using application, with no authentication or user interaction beyond opening the file.

Affected products

  • Python Pillow Pillow 4.1.0 to 12.x

Identifiers

  • CVE-2026-112892
  • GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx

Timeline

  • 2026-10-19: advisory
  • 2026-10-16: patched

References

This page as Markdown. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.