CVE-2004-0804 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in tif_dirread.c for libtiff allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a TIFF image that causes a divide-by-zero error when the number of row bytes is zero, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2452.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0804 resides within the libtiff library's tif_dirread.c component, specifically targeting the handling of TIFF image files during directory reading operations. This flaw represents a classic divide-by-zero error condition that occurs when processing malformed TIFF images where the number of row bytes is calculated as zero. The issue manifests during the parsing of TIFF directory entries, where the application attempts to perform mathematical operations involving division by zero, leading to immediate application termination and denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely through the processing of untrusted TIFF image data, making it a potential vector for denial of service attacks against systems that handle TIFF file processing.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the TIFF file parsing logic. When libtiff encounters a TIFF image with malformed row byte calculations, the code fails to properly check for zero values before performing division operations. This programming error creates a scenario where the application crashes immediately upon encountering such malformed data, resulting in a denial of service condition. The flaw operates at the level of basic arithmetic operations within the image processing pipeline, specifically when calculating row data sizes or offsets during directory entry parsing. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-369 as a divide by zero condition, which represents a fundamental programming error that can be exploited to cause application instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability impacts systems that utilize libtiff for image processing, including web applications, image servers, and document management systems that accept TIFF file uploads. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability simply by uploading or providing a malicious TIFF file to a vulnerable system, without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors. The impact extends beyond individual application crashes to potentially affect entire service availability, particularly in environments where TIFF processing is a core functionality. Systems that process large volumes of user-generated content become especially vulnerable, as they may be subjected to repeated attacks that can exhaust system resources or cause cascading failures in dependent services.
The exploitation of CVE-2004-0804 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, specifically targeting application availability through code execution flaws. Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense including input validation, proper error handling, and regular library updates to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of libtiff that include proper bounds checking and zero-value validation before division operations. Additionally, deploying network segmentation, input filtering, and application firewalls can help reduce the attack surface and limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application termination patterns and file processing errors that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all systems using libtiff have been updated to versions that address this specific divide-by-zero condition.