CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-40192NVD status: Modified

Pillow: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-40192 is a high-severity uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in Pillow from Python-pillow, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Pillow versions: >= 10.3.0, < 12.2.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Pillow you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Python-pillowPillow>= 10.3.0, < 12.2.0Not stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat AI Inference Server 3.2Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat AI Inference Server 3.3Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat AI Inference Server 3.4Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.3Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift AI 2.25Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift AI 3.3Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.10Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.12Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.14Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.15Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.16Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.17Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Quay 3.9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatLightspeed CoreNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatOpenShift LightspeedNot specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 5 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.08.7HighCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA

Official description

Pillow is a Python imaging library. Versions 10.3.0 through 12.1.1 did not limit the amount of GZIP-compressed data read when decoding a FITS image, making them vulnerable to decompression bomb attacks. A specially crafted FITS file could cause unbounded memory consumption, leading to denial of service (OOM crash or severe performance degradation). If users are unable to immediately upgrade, they should only open specific image formats, excluding FITS, as a workaround.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Ensure that protocols have specific limits of scale placed on them.
  • Ensure that all failures in resource allocation place the system into a safe posture.

More Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities (CWE-400)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Pillow

All Pillow vulnerabilities

Recent Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities

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