We study steady thin reaction fronts described by the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation that separates fluids of different densities. This system may lead to hydrodynamic instabilities as buoyancy forces interact with the propagating fronts in a two-dimensional slab. We use Darcy's law to describe the fluid motion in this geometry. Steady front profiles can be flat, axisymmetric, or nonaxisymmetric, depending on the slab width, the density gradient, and fluid viscosity. Unstable flat fronts can be stabilized having a density gradient with the less dense fluid on top of a denser fluid. We find the steady front solutions from the nonlinear equations executing a linear stability analysis to determine their stability. We show regions of bistability where stable nonaxisymmetric and axisymmetric fronts can coexist. We also consider the stability of steady solutions in large domains, which can be constructed by dividing the domain into smaller parts or cells. V C 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.[http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4883500]Reaction fronts described by the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky (KS) equation can result in steady curved fronts as they propagate in two-dimensional domains. Transitions between these structures take place as the width of the domain is modified. We consider these fronts separating fluids of different densities, which may result in Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instabilities as a less dense fluid is placed under a denser fluid. We find that convective fluid motion takes place changing the shape and speed of the fronts. In the case of curved fronts, convection always exists due to a horizontal density gradient, even if the less dense fluid is on top. We analyze the stability of the corresponding fronts with convection. We also consider fronts in extended domains generated from solutions in smaller domains or cells, finding that a favorable density gradient can provide a stability to an extended pattern.