CVE-2020-29385: GNOME gdk-pixbuf (aka GdkPixbuf) before 2.42.2 allows a denial of service (infinite loop) in lzw.c in the func

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-29385?

gdk-pixbuf: upgrade to 2.42.2; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-29385 being exploited?

CVE-2020-29385 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-29385 affect?

CVE-2020-29385 affects gdk-pixbuf, ubuntu linux, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). GNOME gdk-pixbuf (aka GdkPixbuf) before 2.42.2 allows a denial of service (infinite loop) in lzw.c in the function write_indexes. if c->self_code equals 10, self->code_table[10].extends will assign the value 11 to c. The next execution in t

This month

MEDIUM 5.5WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-29385 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting gdk-pixbuf, ubuntu linux, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

GNOME gdk-pixbuf (aka GdkPixbuf) before 2.42.2 allows a denial of service (infinite loop) in lzw.c in the function write_indexes. if c->self_code equals 10, self->code_table[10].extends will assign the value 11 to c. The next execution in the loop will assign self->code_table[11].extends to c, which will give the value of 10. This will make the loop run infinitely. This bug can, for example, be triggered by calling this function with a GIF image

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.5% (top 25%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-835
Published	2020-12-26
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · fedoraproject · gnome

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-12-26 02:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:11 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome gdk-pixbuf UPGRADE

Affected: > 2.39.2 and < 2.42.2

Fixed in: 2.42.2

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gdk-pixbuf || rpm -q gdk-pixbuf || gdk-pixbuf --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.42.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gdk-pixbuf

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gdk-pixbuf

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 20.04 · 20.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 20.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 33 · 34

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 33

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-29385?

gdk-pixbuf: upgrade to 2.42.2; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-29385 being exploited?

CVE-2020-29385 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-29385 affect?

CVE-2020-29385 affects gdk-pixbuf, ubuntu linux, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). GNOME gdk-pixbuf (aka GdkPixbuf) before 2.42.2 allows a denial of service (infinite loop) in lzw.c in the function write_indexes. if c->self_code equals 10, self->code_table[10].extends will assign the value 11 to c. The next execution in t

How urgent is CVE-2020-29385?

Priority 43/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-5201 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE A flaw was found in the gdk-pixbuf library
CVE-2021-46829 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE GNOME GdkPixbuf (aka GDK-PixBuf) before 2.42.8 allows a heap-based buffer overflow when compositing or clearin
CVE-2021-20240 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE A flaw was found in gdk-pixbuf in versions before 2.42.0
CVE-2017-6314 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE The make_available_at_least function in io-tiff.c in gdk-pixbuf allows context-dependent attackers to cause a
CVE-2017-6313 HIGH 7.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE Integer underflow in the load_resources function in io-icns.c in gdk-pixbuf allows context-dependent attackers

References

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