High [CVE-2026-18298] Remote code execution via heap-based buffer overflow in PNG file parsing
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-18298 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.
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Summary
GStreamer PNG File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GStreamer.
User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PNG files.
The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.
Was ZDI-CAN-29581. A flaw was found in GStreamer.
Successful exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious PNG file or visiting a specially crafted web page. The issue arises from inadequate validation of user-supplied data length, which can lead to code execution within the context of the affected process.
Red Hat severity: Important — CVSS 7.8 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). Weakness: CWE-120.
Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. Red Hat does not currently list a fixing RHSA for this CVE.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: gstreamer1; Red Hat package: mingw-gstreamer1.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative — check it before change work.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 33 minutes ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists — confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 33 minutes ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- To reduce the risk of exploitation, users should avoid opening or processing untrusted PNG files from unknown or suspicious sources. This operational control is crucial as the vulnerability requires user interaction to trigger the heap-based buffer overflow.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 33 minutes ago·verify at source
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