CVE-2026-16118: Xdgmime: heap-based buffer overflow in _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line() in xdgmimemagic.c
A flaw was found in xdgmime, affecting all versions. A heap-based buffer overflow can occur in xdgmimemagicparsemagicline() in the xdgmimemagic.c file on little-endian systems when an attacker-controlled MIME magic file in a user-writable XDG data location (e.g., in the $XDGDATAHOME/mime/magic path) is parsed by an application performing MIME type detection (e.g., via gcontenttypeguess()). When performing byte-swap, incorrect pointer arithmetic on the write side causes an out-of-bounds write of 2 bytes, resulting in an application crash or memory corruption. To exploit this flaw, an attacker must trick a user into installing a malicious MIME magic file.
Other sources
A flaw was found in xdgmime. A heap-based buffer overflow can be triggered in xdgmimemagicparsemagicline() in the xdgmimemagic.c file on little-endian systems when an attacker-controlled MIME magic file in a user-writable XDG data location (e.g., in the $XDGDATAHOME/mime/magic path) is parsed by an application performing MIME type detection (e.g., via gcontenttypeguess()). When performing byte-swap, incorrect pointer arithmetic on the write side causes an out-of-bounds write of 2 bytes, resulting in an application crash or memory corruption.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-16118?
CVE-2026-16118 has a high severity score of 7.1.
How do I fix CVE-2026-16118?
To fix CVE-2026-16118, update the xdgmime library to the latest version where the vulnerability is addressed.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-16118?
CVE-2026-16118 is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow.
On which systems is CVE-2026-16118 exploitable?
CVE-2026-16118 is specifically exploitable on little-endian systems.
What is affected by CVE-2026-16118?
The flaw affects the _xdg_mime_magic_parse_magic_line() function in the xdgmimemagic.c file.