# CVE-2026-62438: GIMP integer overflow in PAA texture file handling

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62438-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-an-attacker-can-cause-a-denial-of  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-16. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-62438 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.1 · Published 2026-10-16

GIMP is an image editing application that processes various graphic file formats. A flaw in its handling of Bohemia Interactive PAA texture files can crash the application or leak sensitive memory contents when a user opens or previews a malicious file. An attacker could exploit this by distributing specially crafted PAA files to cause denial of service or exposure of confidential data.

Technologies: [Gnome GIMP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/gnome-gimp). Vendors: [Gnome](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/gnome).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-62438 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-62438 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-62438?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.1, published 16 October 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-62438?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. 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-2026-62438 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-62438?** Check whether you run Gnome 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.

## Technical details

An integer overflow in GIMP's PAA file decompression code calculates undersized memory buffers when processing image dimensions, leading to out-of-bounds reads past the buffer boundary. The vulnerability requires user interaction to open or preview a specially crafted PAA file and affects the plug-in process with potential for minor heap disclosure. The flaw is triggered by local file processing with no privilege escalation required.

## Affected products

- GNOME GIMP

## Timeline

- 2026-10-16: 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-2026-62438](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-62438)

## Related threats

- [GIMP stack buffer overflow in PSD image resource header loader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119528-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-the-psd-plug-in-s-image-resource-header)
- [GIMP stack-based buffer overflow in APNG file parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-92183-gimp-apng-file-parsing-stack-based-buffer-overflow-remote-code)
- [GIMP out-of-bounds write in GIMPressionist plugin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97185-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-when-processing-a-specially-crafted)
- [GIMP out-of-bounds heap read in TIM image loader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96545-an-out-of-bounds-heap-read-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-s-tim-image)