Description
Pillow is a Python imaging library. From 9.1.0 until 13.0.0, Pillow can disclose uninitialized stack memory when Image.quantize() uses an empty palette. ImagingPaletteCacheUpdate() leaves a local cache array uninitialized when the palette has zero entries, and the conversion path emits those bytes as output pixel indices. An attacker who controls the palette image can obtain stack contents from a returned PNG or GIF. This can disclose addresses and stack-canary data without an out-of-bounds access, memory corruption, or process crash. This issue is fixed in version 13.0.0.
Affected products
python: pillow
References4
- github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/security/advisories/GHSA-rfgq-q… ExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
- github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/security/advisories/GHSA-rfgq-q… ExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
- github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/commit/13943c8f857b22f073d30f0e… Patch
- github.com/python-pillow/Pillow/releases/tag/13.0.0 Release Notes
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
5.3
MEDIUM
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N - CVSS 4.0
-
6.9
MEDIUM
Score source: CNA
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 28 · as of 10 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-457
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.