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Response snapshot Oct 27, 2026, 00:51 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-112402

Pillow: Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform

``` ============================================================================ Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform Location: src/libImaging/Geometry.

Published Updated

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
8.7 High (CVSS 4.0)
Chance of exploitation
0.5% in the next 30 days
Sources
2 independent sources

What to do

GitHub lists first patched versions: Pillow: 13.0.0. Confirm the affected range and upgrade guidance in the exact advisory.

Read GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm (opens a new tab)

What happened

``` ============================================================================ Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform Location: src/libImaging/Geometry.c:866 in ImagingScaleAffine() Commit: a707c6b21c313880d0771e54965d142dd42358b6 ============================================================================ ```

There is a double free in Pillow's `Image.transform()` that crashes the process when an oversized transform runs out of memory. Instead of only raising `MemoryError`, Pillow frees the output image's memory once while handling the error and then again when the Python object is cleaned up. Anyone who can choose the output size of `Image.

transform()` can trigger it, but only on a worker with a memory limit (a common hardening for image workers) or a 32-bit process. The result is a crash of the worker, plus corruption of its heap that has not been shown to be controllable.

The bug is in `ImagingScaleAffine()` in `src/libImaging/Geometry.c` (line 866). When its `calloc()` for the per-column lookup table of `4 × width` bytes fails, it calls `ImagingDelete(imOut)`. When the call comes from `Image.transform()`, `imOut` is the `Imaging` struct owned by the live Python `ImagingCore` output object. `_dealloc()` in `src/_imaging.

Continue reading

c` later runs `ImagingDelete()` on the freed struct again, writing its mutex and refcount in freed memory and freeing the pixel blocks a second time. The path is reached with `Transform.EXTENT`, or `Transform.AFFINE` with a pure scale/translate matrix, under the default NEAREST resampling. A very wide, 1-row output size makes the lookup table the allocation that fails while the image itself still fits.

On 64-bit Linux with default overcommit, that requires an address-space limit such as `ulimit -v`, `uwsgi --limit-as` or `systemd LimitAS=`. `resize()`, `thumbnail()` and `rotate()` are not affected. The attached reproducer runs on a stock build with a 1 GB limit: `transform((300000000, 1), EXTENT)` raises and catches `MemoryError`, then the process dies with SIGSEGV in `free()` called from `_dealloc()`.

A memory-checking build reports the same path as a heap use-after-free. The faulty line was inherited from PIL 1.1.7 in the original fork commit, so every Pillow release since 1.0 is affected. A patch is attached.

## Details

`ImagingScaleAffine()` frees an image it does not own. On the one error path where its `calloc()` for the per-column lookup table fails, it calls `ImagingDelete(imOut)`. When reached through `Image.transform()`, `imOut` is the `Imaging` struct held by a live Python `ImagingCore` object; that object's `_dealloc()` later calls `ImagingDelete()` on the already-freed struct and frees its pixel blocks a second time.

Shortest demonstration on the stock build (the address-space limit stands in for `ulimit -v` / `uwsgi --limit-as` / `systemd LimitAS=` on a worker):

```python import resource, gc from PIL import Image resource.setrlimit(resource.RLIMIT_AS, (1_000_000_000,) * 2) src = Image.new("L", (8, 8)) try: src.transform((300_000_000, 1), Image.Transform.EXTENT, (0, 0, 8, 8)) except MemoryError: pass # expected, and the process should carry on gc.collect() # instead: SIGSEGV in _dealloc -> ImagingDelete -> free() ```

The 300 MB output image allocates; `calloc(300000000, 4)` (1.2 GB) does not. `MemoryError` is raised as intended, but the interpreter then dies with SIGSEGV, gdb showing `free()` ← `memory_return_block`/`ImagingDestroyArray` (`src/libImaging/Storage.c:396,408`) ← `ImagingDelete` (`Storage.c:271`) ← `_dealloc` (`src/_imaging.c:188`).

An AddressSanitizer build of the same sources (with `max_allocation_size_mb` used to make the `calloc` fail instead of an rlimit) reports `heap-use-after-free` in `ImagingDelete src/libImaging/Storage.c:257` called from `_dealloc src/_imaging.c:188`, on a 128-byte region "freed by" `ImagingDelete` ← `ImagingScaleAffine src/libImaging/Geometry.c:866` ← `ImagingTransformAffine Geometry.

c:1043` ← `ImagingTransform Geometry.c:1135` ← `_transform src/_imaging.c:2153`, "previously allocated by" `ImagingNewPrologueSubtype Storage.c:53` ← … ← `_new src/_imaging.c:756`.

### Code path

`Image.transform()` creates the output image as an ordinary Python-owned image and then transforms *into* it:

```python # src/PIL/Image.py:3008…3021 im = new(self.mode, size, fillcolor) … im.__transformer( (0, 0, *size), self, method, data, resample, fillcolor is None ) ```

`__transformer()` rewrites `Transform.EXTENT` into an axis-aligned affine matrix (`src/PIL/Image.py:3040-3046`: `data = (xs, 0, x0, 0, ys, y0)`, `method = Transform.AFFINE`) and calls `self.im.transform(box, image.im, method, data, resample, fill)` (`Image.py:3117`). `resample` defaults to `Resampling.NEAREST` (`Image.py:2936`).

In C, `_transform()` passes its *own* image as the destination:

```c /* src/_imaging.c:2153 */ imOut = ImagingTransform( self->image, imagep->image, method, x0, y0, x1, y1, a, filter, fill ); ```

`ImagingTransformAffine()` takes the scaling fast path because the filter is NEAREST and the matrix has no shear:

```c /* src/libImaging/Geometry.c:1035-1043 */ if (filterid || imIn->type == IMAGING_TYPE_I16) { return ImagingGenericTransform(…); } if (a[1] == 0 && a[3] == 0) { /* Scaling */ return ImagingScaleAffine(imOut, imIn, x0, y0, x1, y1, a, fill); } ```

and `ImagingScaleAffine()` allocates a table of `imOut->xsize` ints:

```c /* src/libImaging/Geometry.c:863-868 */ /* malloc check ok, uses calloc for overflow */ xintab = (int *)calloc(imOut->xsize, sizeof(int)); if (!xintab) { ImagingDelete(imOut); /* destroy`, and `free(im)`. `self->image` in the `ImagingCore` object still points at the freed struct. `_transform()` returns `NULL`, `Image.

transform()` propagates `MemoryError`, the half-built output `Image` loses its last reference, and `_dealloc()` (`src/_imaging.c:188`) calls `ImagingDelete(imagep->image)` again: it locks `im->mutex` and decrements `im->refcount` inside freed me

Affected package ranges reported by GitHub: Pillow: <= 12.3.0

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

8.7

Version 4.0As of

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

0.5%

Scored Percentile 43.4%

Model and measurement source (opens a new tab)

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm (opens a new tab)

    The public advisory supplies the description, affected package/version ranges, and any listed CVSS metric. GitHub review is not local review.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  4. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  5. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  6. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  7. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  8. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  9. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  10. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  11. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  12. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-112402 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  13. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  14. Primary source

    FIRST measured EPSS score (opens a new tab)

    Measured EPSS probability and percentile for CVE-2026-112402, scored 2026-10-26. This is a model estimate, not proof of exposure.

    Published Checked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, October 21). Pillow: Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform (CVE-2026-112402). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-112402

MLA

"Pillow: Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform (CVE-2026-112402)." KEVWire, 21 Oct. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-112402.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Pillow: Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform (CVE-2026-112402)." Last modified October 21, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-112402.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Pillow: Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform (Oct 21, 2026).
```
============================================================================
Double free in ImagingScaleAffine on calloc failure via Image.transform
Location: src/libImaging/Geometry.c:866 in ImagingScaleAffine()
Commit: a707c6b21c313880d0771e54965d142dd42358b6
============================================================================
```

There is a double free in Pillow's `Image.transform()` that crashes the process when an oversized transform runs out of memory. Instead of only raising `MemoryError`, Pillow frees the output image's memory once while handling the error and then again when the Python object is cleaned up. Anyone who can choose the output size of `Image.transform()` can trigger it, but only on a worker with a memory limit (a common hardening for image workers) or a 32-bit process. The result is a crash of the worker, plus corruption of its heap that has not been shown to be controllable.
CVSS 8.7 (version 4.0; evidence as of Oct 21, 2026; https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm).
EPSS 0.5% for the following 30 days, scored Oct 26, 2026 (https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-112402&date=2026-10-26).
Sources:
GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-7mwm-ghpf-9vrm
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMlQxNTo1Mjo1NlrOAAfxiA%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMlQxNDowNjoxNFrOAAfxZw%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMlQwODoyNzoyM1rOAAYp9A%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMTozNTo1OFrOAAfwCQ%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMTozMDoxM1rOAAfv2A%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMToyODowOVrOAAfv1g%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMToyNDoyMFrOAAfv1Q%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMDo0NTowN1rOAAfvzQ%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yMVQyMDozMDoyNlrOAAfvxw%3D%3D
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc&after=Y3Vyc29yOnYyOpK0MjAyNi0xMC0yM1QxODoyOTowNVrOAAfz8g%3D%3D
NVD CVE-2026-112402: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112402
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?pubStartDate=2026-10-12T13:35:55.142Z&pubEndDate=2026-10-26T13:35:55.142Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=5500
FIRST measured EPSS score: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-112402&date=2026-10-26
Record ID: CVE-2026-112402.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Oct 26, 2026, 19:40 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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