CVE-2004-0802 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the BMP loader in imlib2 before 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially-crafted BMP image, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-0817.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0802 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the BMP image loader component of the imlib2 library version 1.1.1 and earlier. This issue resides in the handling of bitmap image files and demonstrates how seemingly benign image processing functionality can become a vector for remote code execution. The imlib2 library serves as a fundamental image processing library used across numerous applications and systems for rendering various image formats including BMP, PNG, JPEG, and GIF. When a maliciously crafted BMP image is processed by an application utilizing vulnerable imlib2 versions, the buffer overflow condition occurs during the parsing and loading of image data structures.
The technical flaw manifests specifically in the way the BMP loader manages memory allocation for image data buffers. When processing malformed BMP files containing oversized or malformed headers, the loader fails to properly validate input boundaries before copying image data into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow vulnerability allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious payload data, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the image parsing layer, meaning any application that utilizes imlib2 for image loading and display becomes susceptible to exploitation, including web browsers, image viewers, and multimedia applications. The flaw differs from CVE-2004-0817, which addressed a separate vulnerability in the same library, indicating that multiple weaknesses existed within the image processing components that required comprehensive remediation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual system compromise, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This means that if a web server or application processes user-uploaded BMP images without proper validation, attackers could upload malicious files that, when viewed or processed, trigger the buffer overflow and allow remote code execution. The vulnerability affects a broad range of systems since imlib2 was widely adopted across Unix-like systems, desktop environments, and various software packages that handle image processing. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors, making it a significant concern for system administrators and security professionals managing environments where image processing is a common function.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0802 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected imlib2 installations to version 1.1.2 or later, where the buffer overflow vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input validation and memory management. System administrators should also implement defensive measures such as input sanitization for image files, particularly when processing user-uploaded content, and employ application-level sandboxing to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to arbitrary code execution. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through libraries and privilege escalation, making it particularly relevant for threat modeling and security assessment activities.