Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Imaging Component allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:03.917Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:03.917Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified within the Windows Imaging Component, a critical subsystem responsible for processing image files and metadata within the Microsoft Windows operating system environment.\nThe vulnerability allows an unauthorized local attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, leading to potential system compromise.\nThe flaw stems from improper bounds checking during the parsing and processing of malformed image structures by the vulnerable component.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the attacker to have local access and trick a user or system process into opening a specially crafted image file.\nThe risk implication is severe, as arbitrary code execution within the context of the Windows Imaging Component can facilitate privilege escalation, persistence, and lateral movement depending on the execution context of the parser.\nThere are no requirements for prior authentication or elevated privileges to initiate the attack vector, provided the malicious file is successfully processed by a local user or vulnerable application.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, residing within the memory management operations of the Windows Imaging Component.\nThe vulnerable component fails to properly validate the size parameters specified within malformed image headers before allocating heap memory and copying input data into the allocated buffer.\nDuring the parsing phase, input values derived directly from the untrusted image file are used in arithmetic calculations to determine buffer dimensions without adequate overflow checks.\nWhen a specially crafted image is processed, an attacker can supply manipulated header values that result in an integer overflow or an under-allocation of heap memory.\nSubsequent copy operations write past the boundaries of the allocated heap chunk, corrupting adjacent heap metadata and adjacent memory structures.\nThis out-of-bounds write corrupts critical control data pointers on the heap, allowing the attacker to hijack the execution flow via function pointer overwrites or virtual method table manipulation.\nThe attack flow requires the attacker to deliver the malicious image file to the target system and induce a local context—such as previewing the file in Windows Explorer or opening it via an application utilizing the Windows Imaging Component—to parse the file.\nBecause the vulnerability is triggered locally, network exposure is not required for the initial payload delivery.\nUpon successful redirection of the instruction pointer, the payload executes arbitrary native code within the security context of the process invoking the Windows Imaging Component.\nPost-exploitation impact includes full control over the compromised process, potential escalation of privileges if running within a high-integrity service context, and unauthorized access to local system resources."
}