CVE-2002-0660 in libpng3
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in libpng 1.0.12-3.woody.2 and libpng3 1.2.1-1.1.woody.2 on Debian GNU/Linux 3.0, and other operating systems, may allow attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code, a different vulnerability than CVE-2002-0728.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0660 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the libpng library versions 1.0.12-3.woody.2 and 1.2.1-1.1.woody.2 distributed with Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 and other operating systems. This flaw resides in the handling of PNG image files and specifically affects the decompression routines that process image data. The buffer overflow occurs when the library processes malformed or specially crafted PNG files that contain oversized data structures or malformed metadata, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects widely used image processing libraries that are integral to many applications across different platforms and operating systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate bounds checking within the libpng library's parsing functions. When processing PNG files, the library fails to properly validate the size parameters of image chunks before allocating memory for decompression operations. This allows attackers to craft PNG files with maliciously sized data fields that cause the library to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to read and decompress image data that exceeds predetermined buffer limits, leading to stack corruption or heap corruption depending on the specific memory layout and execution context. The flaw is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly enables potential code execution through memory corruption attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that can be leveraged by attackers. Systems utilizing affected versions of libpng are at risk when processing untrusted PNG image files, whether through web applications, email attachments, or file upload mechanisms. The vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including web-based attacks where malicious PNG files are uploaded to servers or served to users, leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly broad given that libpng is used by numerous applications including web browsers, image viewers, content management systems, and various server applications that handle PNG image processing. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203 as it enables privilege escalation and system compromise through exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities in commonly used libraries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0660 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected libpng installations and implementation of input validation measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of libpng, specifically versions 1.0.13 and 1.2.2 or later, which contain proper bounds checking and memory allocation safeguards. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation for PNG files in applications that process user-uploaded content, including size limitations, format verification, and sandboxed execution environments. Network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust application security practices including proper memory management, input validation, and secure coding practices that align with industry standards for preventing buffer overflow conditions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other system components and third-party libraries.