---
id: "CVE-2026-120431"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-120431"]
title: "Netpbm: crafted SGI image file overflows heap buffer, risking code execution"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.5
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["image-processing", "linux", "netpbm", "package"]
not_affected_if: ["no-sgi-conversion", "trusted-input-only"]
published_at: "2026-11-02T15:17:24+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-02T15:24:01+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-02T15:26:02+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120431", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-02T15:24:01+00:00"}]
---

# Netpbm: crafted SGI image file overflows heap buffer, risking code execution

Netpbm's sgitopnm tool has a heap buffer overflow when it reads RLE-compressed SGI images with oversized offset tables. An attacker who supplies a crafted SGI file can crash the program or potentially run code.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed Netpbm version with `pnmcat --version` or your package manager's query for `netpbm`.
- Look for the `sgitopnm` binary or a service that converts uploaded SGI images with it.

## Fix

- Netpbm before `10.86.51` is affected; upgrade to `10.86.51` or later in that line.
- Netpbm `11.x` before `11.02.29` is affected; upgrade to `11.02.29` or later.
- Netpbm `11.03` before `11.15.07` is affected; upgrade to `11.15.07` or later.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-02T15:24:01+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120431

## Documents

- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netpbm-before-10.86.51-11.02.29-and-11.15.07-sgitopnm-heap-buffer-overflow

## From the sources

Netpbm before 10.86.51, 11.x before 11.02.29, and 11.03 before 11.15.07 contains a heap-based buffer overflow in sgitopnm's readChannels() function when processing RLE-compressed SGI images. Attackers can supply crafted SGI files with oversized offset table lengths to write controlled data past the heap buffer, causing crashes or potential code execution.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_