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Unbounded memory expansion in Pillow MSP RLE decoder

Priority LOW 38CWE-409Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 9 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat.

Summary

Pillow from 4.1.0 before 13.0.0 is affected. The MSP RLE decoder writes run-length output to an in-memory buffer without limiting expansion to the declared image size (CWE-409). A remote attacker who supplies a crafted MSP image to an application that loads its pixels can exhaust memory and deny service, even when the declared pixel count passes the decompression-bomb check.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07

Description from the CNA

Pillow is a Python imaging library. From 4.1.0 until 13.0.0, Pillow's MSP RLE decoder can expand a small file into an unbounded in-memory buffer. The decoder writes run-length output to BytesIO without limiting expansion to the declared image size. An attacker can supply a crafted MSP image to an application that loads its pixels. This can exhaust memory and deny service even when the declared pixel count passes the decompression-bomb check. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00503 43rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Pillow (python-pillow): 13.0.0pillow (PyPI): 13.0.0Red Hat: 12 advisoriesRed Hat: 9 fixed, 9 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
python-pillowPillow4.1.0 to before 13.0.013.0.0Patch availableCNA
—pillow (PyPI)4.1.0 to before 13.0.013.0.0Patch availableGHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  • Pillow Vendorpython-pillow Affected 4.1.0 to before 13.0.0 Fixed in 13.0.0 Patch available CNA
  • pillow (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 4.1.0 to before 13.0.0 Fixed in 13.0.0 Patch available GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:python:pillow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*4.1.0 to before 13.0.0Vulnerablepython-pillow
  • cpe:2.3:a:python:pillow:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.1.0 to before 13.0.0 Vulnerable ·python-pillow

Remediation

Fixed in Pillow and PyPI pillow 13.0.0. Red Hat fixes python-pillow in RHSA-2026:92639, Satellite in RHSA-2026:95655, RHSA-2026:95656, RHSA-2026:95657 and RHSA-2026:92861, and AI Inference Server 3.5 and OpenShift AI 3.5 in RHSA-2026:94738, RHSA-2026:94721, RHSA-2026:94717, RHSA-2026:94715, RHSA-2026:94709, RHSA-2026:94702 and RHSA-2026:94631. Red Hat's plan is none available for Ansible Automation Platform 2, RHEL AI 3, Quay 3, Lightspeed Core, OpenShift Lightspeed, Lightspeed Services for OCP and Exploit Intelligence.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07

  • Fix · CNA Pillow (python-pillow) Fixed in 13.0.0
  • Fix · GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx pillow (PyPI) Fixed in 13.0.0 Advisory →

Red Hat 12 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:95655 Released 2026-11-05 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Satellite 6.16 EUS security update
    • Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 8 openvox-agent-8.32.0-1.el8sat, openvox-server-8.18.0-1.el8sat, python-brotli-1.2.1-1.el8pc +11
    • Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 9 openvox-agent-8.32.0-1.el9sat, openvox-server-8.18.0-1.el9sat, python-brotli-1.2.1-1.el9pc +11
  • RHSA-2026:95657 Released 2026-11-05 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Satellite 6.18 security update
    • Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9 openvox-agent-8.32.0-1.el9sat, openvox-server-8.18.0-1.el9sat, python3.12-brotli-1.2.1-1.el9pc +4
  • RHSA-2026:95656 Released 2026-11-05 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Satellite 6.17 security update
    • Red Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9 openvox-agent-8.32.0-1.el9sat, openvox-server-8.18.0-1.el9sat, python-brotli-1.2.1-1.el9pc +9
Show 9 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2026:94738 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.3 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94721 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Tech Preview 3.5.3 (Gaudi)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-gaudi-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94717 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.3 (Spyre)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-spyre-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94715 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Model Optimization Tools 3.5.3 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/model-opt-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94709 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.3 (ROCm)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94702 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.3 (CPU)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-cpu-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:94631 Released 2026-11-03 · Red Hat rating Critical
    GuideLLM 3.5.1
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhai/guidellm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:92639 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    python-pillow security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) python-pillow-5.1.1-33.el8_10, python3-pillow-5.1.1-33.el8_10
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) python3-pillow-5.1.1-33.el8_10, python3-pillow-devel-5.1.1-33.el8_10, python3-pillow-doc-5.1.1-33.el8_10 +1
  • RHSA-2026:92861 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Satellite 6.19 security update
    • Red Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9 openvox-agent-8.31.1-1.el9sat, openvox-server-8.17.0-1.el9sat, python3.12-brotli-1.2.1-1.el9pc +6

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Exploit IntelligenceAffectedNo fix yet
Lightspeed CoreAffectedNo fix yet
OpenShift LightspeedAffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat AI Inference ServerAffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI) 3AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Lightspeed Services for OCPAffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Quay 3AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5Fixed RHSA-2026:94702, RHSA-2026:94709, RHSA-2026:94715, RHSA-2026:94717, RHSA-2026:94721, RHSA-2026:94738
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:92639
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:92639
Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.5Fixed RHSA-2026:94631
Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 8Fixed RHSA-2026:95655
Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 9Fixed RHSA-2026:95655
Red Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9Fixed RHSA-2026:95656
Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9Fixed RHSA-2026:95657
Red Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9Fixed RHSA-2026:92861
Not affected: 8 products
  • Red Hat AI Inference Server
  • Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2
  • Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 8
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 9
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.18 for RHEL 9
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-20 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-112892
  2. 2026-10-21 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  3. 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  4. 2026-10-21 Fix available: PyPI/[email protected] · GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  5. 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  6. 2026-10-21 Weakness changed · GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  7. 2026-10-21 5 new references · GHSA-gg2r-wvfm-q9rx
  8. 2026-10-23 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  9. 2026-10-23 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  10. 2026-10-23 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  11. 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  12. 2026-10-26 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  13. 2026-10-27 CVSS score added · NVD
  14. 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92639 · Red Hat
  15. 2026-10-30 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) · Red Hat
  16. 2026-10-30 Fix available: Red Hat Satellite 6.19 for RHEL 9 · Red Hat
  17. 2026-10-31 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92861 · Red Hat
  18. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94717 · Red Hat
  19. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94715 · Red Hat
  20. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94709 · Red Hat
  21. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94738 · Red Hat
  22. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94702 · Red Hat
  23. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94631 · Red Hat
  24. 2026-11-04 Fix available: RHSA-2026:94721 · Red Hat
  25. 2026-11-04 Fix available: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5, Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.5 · Red Hat
  26. 2026-11-06 Fix available: Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 8, Red Hat Satellite 6.16 for RHEL 9, Red Hat Satellite 6.17 for RHEL 9 +1 · Red Hat
  27. 2026-11-06 Fix available: RHSA-2026:95656 · Red Hat
  28. 2026-11-06 Fix available: RHSA-2026:95655 · Red Hat
  29. 2026-11-06 Fix available: RHSA-2026:95657 · Red Hat
  30. 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  31. 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

  • TI-2026-76627 Out-of-bounds read in Pillow TIFF encoder ColorMap handling CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-76625 Quadratic-time denial of service in Pillow PDF save_all CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-76605 NULL pointer dereference in Pillow's Image.merge function CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-76604 Out-of-bounds read in Pillow TIFF decoding leaks heap memory CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-76602 Double free in Pillow ImagingScaleAffine on allocation failure CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
  • TI-2026-76600 GIF seek in Pillow keeps rejected size, allowing denial of service CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
See all 110 →

Sources