CVE-2001-0775 in xloadimage
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in xloadimage 4.1 (aka xli 1.16 and 1.17) in Linux allows remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via a FACES format image containing a long (1) Firstname or (2) Lastname field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0775 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in xloadimage version 4.1, also known as xli 1.16 and 1.17, which operates within Linux environments. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the image processing functionality, specifically when handling FACES format image files. The FACES format is a proprietary image format used by certain image viewing applications, and the vulnerability manifests when the software processes image files containing excessively long Firstname or Lastname fields. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to exploit the buffer overflow condition by crafting malicious FACES format images that contain oversized data in these specific fields, ultimately enabling remote code execution on systems running vulnerable versions of xloadimage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw occurs during the parsing of FACES format image files when the application fails to properly validate the length of the Firstname or Lastname fields before copying them into fixed-size buffers. When an attacker supplies a FACES image containing strings longer than the allocated buffer space, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing for arbitrary code execution. The attack vector is remote, meaning that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where users might be tricked into opening malicious image files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with full control over affected systems running vulnerable versions of xloadimage. Systems that process or display images from untrusted sources become immediately vulnerable to exploitation, including web servers, desktop environments, and any application that utilizes xloadimage for image display functionality. The vulnerability affects all versions of xloadimage between 1.16 and 1.17, representing a significant security gap in the image processing pipeline that could be exploited in various attack scenarios. Organizations using xloadimage for image viewing purposes in production environments face substantial risk, as this vulnerability could be leveraged to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malicious payloads. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur through email attachments, web downloads, or any other method that delivers the malicious FACES image to a vulnerable system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0775 require immediate action to address the buffer overflow vulnerability within the xloadimage application. The most effective approach involves upgrading to a patched version of xloadimage that properly validates input lengths and implements proper bounds checking for all buffer operations. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to prevent the execution of untrusted image files, particularly those in FACES format, through the implementation of content filtering and application whitelisting policies. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening image files from untrusted sources, and organizations should consider implementing sandboxing techniques when processing potentially malicious image content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in preventing buffer overflow exploits, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other applications using similar image processing libraries that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions.