# CVE-2026-97185: GIMP out-of-bounds write in GIMPressionist plugin

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97185-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-when-processing-a-specially-crafted  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-24. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-97185 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-09-24

GIMP is an image editor used by designers and photographers. A flaw in the GIMPressionist plugin fails to validate vector indices when loading preset files, allowing memory corruption. An attacker could trick a user into loading a malicious preset file, causing the application to crash or potentially running arbitrary code with the user's privileges.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-97185 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-97185 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-97185?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 24 September 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-97185?** 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-2026-97185 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-97185?** 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

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in the GIMPressionist plugin that occurs when processing specially crafted preset files due to improper vector index validation before writing to fixed-size arrays. The attack requires local user interaction (user must load the malicious preset file) with no elevated privileges needed. Successful exploitation can corrupt memory and enable arbitrary code execution in the user's context.

## Affected products

- GNOME GIMP

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: 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-2026-97185](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-97185)

## 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 integer overflow in PAA texture file handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62438-a-flaw-was-found-in-gimp-an-attacker-can-cause-a-denial-of)
- [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)