---
id: "CVE-2026-118590"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-118590"]
title: "nibabel: crafted header makes array_from_file allocate unbounded memory"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 6.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["neuroimaging", "nibabel", "package", "python"]
not_affected_if: ["trusted-input-only"]
published_at: "2026-10-29T01:17:22+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-29T01:36:30+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-29T01:37:38+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118590", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-29T01:36:30+00:00"}]
---

# nibabel: crafted header makes array_from_file allocate unbounded memory

nibabel, a Python library for reading neuroimaging file formats, has an uncontrolled memory allocation in array_from_file in nibabel/volumeutils.py when parsing a crafted file header. An attacker who can supply such a file can exhaust memory and crash the process that reads it.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- `pip show nibabel` to see the installed version
- Check whether the application passes untrusted image files to nibabel's loaders

## Timeline

- 2026-10-29T01:36:30+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118590

## From the sources

A security vulnerability has been detected in nipy nibabel up to 5.4.2. The affected element is the function array_from_file of the file nibabel/volumeutils.py of the component Header Handler. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled memory allocation. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The pull request to fix this issue awaits acceptance.

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