CVE-2004-0598 in libpng
Summary
by MITRE
The png_handle_iCCP function in libpng 1.2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a certain PNG image that triggers a null dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0598 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the libpng library version 1.2.5 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the png_handle_iCCP function which processes ICC profile data within PNG image files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices during the parsing of embedded color profile information in PNG format files. When a maliciously crafted PNG image containing malformed ICC profile data is processed by an application using the vulnerable libpng library, the function fails to properly handle null pointer references during the processing sequence.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed PNG file that contains invalid or malformed ICC profile data. During the parsing process, the png_handle_iCCP function attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or validated, resulting in a null pointer dereference condition. This memory access violation causes the application to crash immediately, leading to a denial of service condition that affects any system or application relying on libpng for image processing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through any application that processes PNG images without proper input sanitization, including web browsers, image viewers, and content management systems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on PNG image processing capabilities. The denial of service attack can be executed remotely by simply presenting a malicious PNG file to any application using the vulnerable libpng library, making it a highly attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt services. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications and systems since libpng is a widely used open source library for handling PNG image format processing. This includes web servers, image processing applications, and any software that handles PNG file uploads or display operations. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting system availability and user experience.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through library updates to libpng version 1.2.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the null pointer dereference issue. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems and applications utilizing vulnerable libpng versions and implement mandatory update procedures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks through application-level vulnerabilities. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation for image file uploads, deploying web application firewalls to filter suspicious image content, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unusual application crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.