CVE-2025-10921
📋 TL;DR
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in GIMP's HDR file parser allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when users open malicious HDR files. This affects all GIMP installations that process HDR files, potentially compromising user systems. Attackers can achieve remote code execution in the context of the current user.
💻 Affected Systems
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
📦 What is this software?
Gimp by Gimp
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise via remote code execution leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to user account compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and user privilege restrictions, potentially only crashing GIMP.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to open malicious HDR file. The vulnerability is publicly disclosed with technical details available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: GIMP 2.10.40 and 3.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gegl/-/commit/0e68b7471dabf2800d780819c19bd5e6462f565f
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update GIMP to version 2.10.40 or 3.0.0 using your distribution's package manager. 2. For Linux: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade gimp (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo yum update gimp (RHEL/CentOS). 3. For Windows/macOS: Download latest version from gimp.org. 4. Restart GIMP after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable HDR file support
allRemove or disable HDR file format support in GIMP to prevent parsing of malicious files
# Remove HDR plugin file (location varies by OS)
# Linux: rm /usr/lib/gimp/2.0/plug-ins/file-hdr
# Windows: Delete file-hdr.exe from GIMP plugins directory
Use application sandboxing
linux/windowsRun GIMP in a sandboxed environment to limit impact of potential exploitation
# Linux using Firejail: firejail gimp
# Windows using Sandboxie: Configure GIMP to run in sandbox
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file type filtering to block HDR files at email gateways and web proxies
- Educate users to never open HDR files from untrusted sources and disable automatic file opening
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check GIMP version: gimp --version. If version is below 2.10.40, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
gimp --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify GIMP version is 2.10.40 or higher: gimp --version. Test opening a legitimate HDR file to ensure functionality remains.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- GIMP crash logs with memory access violations
- Unexpected child processes spawned from GIMP
- Network connections initiated by GIMP process
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from GIMP to unknown IPs
- DNS queries for command and control domains from GIMP process
SIEM Query:
process_name:"gimp" AND (event_id:"1000" OR event_id:"1001") OR process_parent_name:"gimp" AND process_name NOT IN ("gimp", known_legitimate_processes)