CVE-2002-1371 in CUPS
Summary
by MITRE
filters/image-gif.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly check for zero-length GIF images, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via modified chunk headers, as demonstrated by nogif.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1371 resides within the Common Unix Printing System CUPS software version 1.1.14 through 1.1.17, specifically in the image-gif.c component responsible for processing gif image files. This flaw represents a critical security issue that arises from insufficient validation of gif image structures during the parsing process. The vulnerability occurs when the system fails to properly validate the length of gif image chunks, creating a condition where maliciously crafted images can trigger unexpected behavior in the processing pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of zero-length gif image chunks within the image processing code. When CUPS encounters a gif image with malformed chunk headers indicating zero length, the system does not adequately validate these conditions before proceeding with image processing operations. This validation failure creates a potential code execution vector where remote attackers can craft specially formatted gif files that, when processed by the vulnerable CUPS system, trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. The attack demonstrates how modifying chunk headers in gif files can cause the application to execute arbitrary code, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows remote attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable CUPS versions. This represents a significant threat to networked printing environments where CUPS serves as the primary printing system, particularly in enterprise settings where multiple users may interact with shared printing resources. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the affected network infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers insufficient validation of array index values. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203, which involves gaining access to systems through exploitation of remote code execution vulnerabilities, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter techniques used in exploitation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability, as the exploitation methods are well-documented and the potential for widespread compromise exists in environments where CUPS is deployed.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of security patches provided by the CUPS development team, implementation of network-based filtering to prevent suspicious gif file transfers to printing systems, and comprehensive monitoring of print server activities for unusual processing patterns. Additional protective measures involve restricting access to printing services through network segmentation, implementing strict file type validation for print job submissions, and maintaining current security intelligence feeds to identify similar vulnerabilities in related software components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in image processing libraries and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in file format handling can create significant security risks in widely deployed software systems.