Summary
Pillow: MSP RLE decoder expands a tiny file into unbounded memory
The MSP RLE decoder expands run-length data into an in-memory buffer with no cap tied to the declared image size. A small file that passes the pixel-count check can force hundreds of megabytes or more of allocation when the application loads pixels.
Details
The MSP decoder writes each run into an unbounded io.BytesIO and can expand roughly 85x per run:
src/PIL/MspImagePlugin.py:144-146
Impact
Memory-exhaustion denial of service from a tiny crafted image in any application that loads pixels. The expansion is decoupled from the declared pixel count, so MAX_IMAGE_PIXELS does not bound it.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-112892? CVE-2026-112892 is a high-severity security vulnerability in pillow (pip), affecting versions >= 4.1.0, < 13.0.0. It is fixed in 13.0.0.
- Which versions of pillow are affected by CVE-2026-112892? pillow (pip) versions >= 4.1.0, < 13.0.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-112892? Yes. CVE-2026-112892 is fixed in 13.0.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-112892 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-112892 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2026-112892 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-112892? Upgrade
pillowto 13.0.0 or later.