CVE-2026-77219: GNU Emacs before 31.0.91 contains an integer overflow in the PBM/PPM/PGM image loader that allows an attacker to leak heap memory contents by supplying a crafte

GNU Emacs before 31.0.91 contains an integer overflow in the PBM/PPM/PGM image loader that allows an attacker to leak heap memory contents by supplying a crafte

GNU Emacs before 31.0.91 contains an integer overflow in the PBM/PPM/PGM image loader that allows an attacker to leak heap memory contents by supplying a crafted image with large dimensions and an elevated max color index. The image loader multiplies image dimensions and channel count using signed integer arithmetic; for sufficiently large values, the result wraps to a negative number, bypassing the bounds check and causing the pixel reader to access heap memory past the end of the allocated buffer. The over-read contents are interpreted as pixel color values and rendered on screen.

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by VulnCheck

What it means for a small business

If your business uses Emacs, install the vendor's update. If you're not sure whether you use it, ask whoever manages your computers.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.13%, higher than 2% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 29, 2026, updated daily.

Check your own setup

Website check: reads what your site runs from the outside (WordPress version, plugins it can see, old server software) and matches it against this database.
Server check: what your web server says about itself, and whether that version has known flaws.

Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

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