CVE-2025-6035 identifies a security vulnerability in the GIMP image manipulation program, specifically within its Despeckle plug-in. The root cause is an integer overflow or wraparound during the calculation of memory allocation size, which occurs when multiplying image width, height, and bytes-per-pixel (img_bpp) without proper validation. This unchecked multiplication can result in allocating less memory than required, leading to out-of-bounds writes on the heap. Such memory corruption can cause application crashes (denial of service) or, in certain scenarios, enable an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running GIMP. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges and user interaction, as the user must open or process a crafted image file to trigger the flaw. The affected product is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, which bundles GIMP with the vulnerable Despeckle plug-in. Although no public exploits are known at this time, the vulnerability's presence in a widely used open-source image editing tool poses a risk, especially in environments where GIMP is used to process untrusted image files. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, considering the attack vector is local, requires user interaction, and privileges are low, but the impact on availability is high and confidentiality and integrity impacts are low to medium. The vulnerability was published on June 13, 2025, and no patches or exploit mitigations are currently listed, emphasizing the need for vigilance and prompt remediation once updates are available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-6035 can be significant in environments where GIMP is used extensively, such as graphic design, media production, and research institutions. The vulnerability could allow attackers with local access to cause denial of service by crashing the application or potentially escalate to arbitrary code execution, compromising system integrity and availability. This risk is heightened in multi-user systems or shared workstations where untrusted image files might be processed. Confidentiality impact is limited but not negligible if arbitrary code execution is achieved, potentially allowing data exfiltration or lateral movement. The medium CVSS score reflects that while exploitation requires user interaction and local access, the consequences can disrupt critical workflows or lead to system compromise. European organizations relying on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, which is still in use in some legacy or specialized environments, should consider the risk of this vulnerability in their threat models, especially where GIMP is part of the software stack. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in operational disruptions and increased attack surface for threat actors targeting creative or research sectors.

To mitigate CVE-2025-6035, European organizations should: 1) Monitor Red Hat and GIMP project advisories closely and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available to fix the integer overflow in the Despeckle plug-in. 2) Restrict local access to systems running vulnerable versions of GIMP, especially in multi-user or shared environments, to reduce the risk of untrusted users exploiting the flaw. 3) Implement application whitelisting or sandboxing for GIMP to limit the impact of potential arbitrary code execution. 4) Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted image files and enforce policies to avoid processing images from unknown or unverified sources. 5) Consider upgrading from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 to a more recent, supported version where the vulnerability is addressed or the software stack is updated. 6) Employ runtime protections such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) to make exploitation more difficult. 7) Use file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to GIMP binaries or plug-ins. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, user awareness, and environment hardening specific to this vulnerability and affected software.