CVE-2025-10920
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious ICNS files in GIMP. The flaw exists in ICNS file parsing where improper data validation leads to an out-of-bounds write. All GIMP users who open untrusted ICNS files are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
📦 What is this software?
Gimp by Gimp
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the GIMP user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation or malware execution in user context, potentially leading to credential theft, lateral movement, or data exfiltration.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing, user privilege restrictions, and file validation controls in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file). The vulnerability is documented by ZDI with advisory ZDI-25-909.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version containing merge request 2443
Vendor Advisory: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/merge_requests/2443
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update GIMP to the latest version containing the fix from merge request 2443. 2. Restart GIMP after update. 3. Verify the fix by checking the version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ICNS file support
allRemove or disable ICNS file format support in GIMP to prevent exploitation
# Remove ICNS plugin file (location varies by OS)
# Example for Linux: rm /usr/lib/gimp/2.0/plug-ins/file-icns
Use application sandboxing
linuxRun GIMP in a sandboxed environment to limit potential damage
# Example using Firejail on Linux: firejail gimp
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file validation policies to block ICNS files from untrusted sources
- Run GIMP with reduced user privileges and in isolated environments
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if GIMP version is older than the version containing merge request 2443 fixCheck Version:
gimp --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify GIMP version is updated to include the fix from merge request 2443📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- GIMP crash logs with memory access violations
- Unexpected process execution from GIMP context
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from GIMP process to unknown destinations
SIEM Query:
Process:gimp AND (EventID:1000 OR ExceptionCode:c0000005)