Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CVE-2026-5201 is a high-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 from Red Hat, 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. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.15% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 67% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Gdk-pixbuf to 2.44.6 or a later version.
- Update Ai Inference Server to 3.3.3 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on gitlab.gnome.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 13 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 CNA (redhat.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (redhat.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA |
Official description
A flaw was found in the gdk-pixbuf library. This heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability occurs in the JPEG image loader due to improper validation of color component counts when processing a specially crafted JPEG image. A remote attacker can exploit this flaw without user interaction, for example, via thumbnail generation. Successful exploitation leads to application crashes and denial of service (DoS) conditions.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the heap.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
- Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gdk-pixbuf/-/issues/304Issue Tracking
Third-party and government advisories
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10707Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10708Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10741Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:11325Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:11326Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:11327Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:11328Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:11806Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12060Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12061Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12062Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12114Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:12115Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16008Third Party Advisory
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:16009Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.9 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
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