CVE-2004-0914 in libXpm
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in libXpm for 6.8.1 and earlier, as used in XFree86 and other packages, include (1) multiple integer overflows, (2) out-of-bounds memory accesses, (3) directory traversal, (4) shell metacharacter, (5) endless loops, and (6) memory leaks, which could allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, cause a denial of service (application crash), or execute arbitrary code via a certain XPM image file. NOTE: it is highly likely that this candidate will be SPLIT into other candidates in the future, per CVE s content decisions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0914 represents a critical collection of security flaws within the libXpm library version 6.8.1 and earlier implementations. This library serves as a crucial component in X11-based graphical systems, particularly within XFree86 and related packages, where it handles the parsing and rendering of XPM image format files. The affected library's widespread adoption across Unix-like systems and graphical environments amplifies the potential impact of these vulnerabilities, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who could exploit these weaknesses through specially crafted XPM image files.
The technical flaws within libXpm encompass multiple categories of security weaknesses that collectively create a comprehensive attack vector. Integer overflows represent one of the most dangerous classes of vulnerabilities, as they can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution when the library processes malformed XPM files containing oversized dimensions or calculated values that exceed the bounds of integer data types. Out-of-bounds memory accesses occur when the library fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits during image parsing operations, potentially allowing attackers to read or write data beyond allocated memory regions. Directory traversal vulnerabilities enable attackers to manipulate file paths within the library's processing logic, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system files or directories. Shell metacharacter processing issues create opportunities for command injection when the library handles filenames or paths that contain special shell characters. Endless loops represent denial-of-service vulnerabilities that can cause applications to consume excessive CPU resources, while memory leaks gradually consume system resources over time, potentially leading to system instability or resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass multiple attack vectors that can compromise system integrity and availability. Remote attackers can leverage these flaws to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially gaining complete control over systems that utilize vulnerable libXpm implementations. The ability to obtain sensitive information through memory reads and buffer overflows creates opportunities for data exfiltration and privilege escalation attacks. Denial-of-service conditions can be triggered through crafted XPM files that cause application crashes or indefinite resource consumption, disrupting system availability. These vulnerabilities particularly affect graphical applications and servers that process user-provided image files, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise desktop environments, web applications, or server-based X11 services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0914 require immediate attention and comprehensive system hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to libXpm version 6.8.2 or later, which contains patches addressing all identified vulnerabilities. System administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all XPM file processing operations, ensuring that image dimensions, file paths, and metadata are properly validated before processing. Network-based defenses should include filtering of XPM file types at network boundaries or implementing application-level restrictions that prevent processing of untrusted image files. The implementation of memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap-based memory protection can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable libXpm implementations and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE categories including CWE-129 for improper validation of array indices, CWE-190 for integer overflow conditions, and CWE-77 for command injection through shell metacharacters, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1499 for endpoint denial of service.
The broader implications of CVE-2004-0914 extend beyond immediate exploitation to highlight the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in graphics libraries. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign image processing functionality can become a gateway for sophisticated attacks when proper security controls are absent. The potential for these flaws to be combined into more complex attack chains, where one vulnerability facilitates exploitation of others, emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing of graphical libraries. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple implementations across different software packages underscores the systemic nature of such security issues and the importance of coordinated patch management across all affected systems. The vulnerability's designation as potentially being split into multiple CVEs reflects the complexity and severity of individual weaknesses, indicating that each class of flaw may warrant separate attention in vulnerability management and security assessment procedures.