CVE-2004-1025 in imlib
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in imlib 1.9.14 and earlier, which is used by gkrellm and several window managers, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and execute arbitrary code via certain image files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1025 represents a critical security flaw affecting imlib version 1.9.14 and earlier implementations that are widely utilized by system monitoring tools such as gkrellm and various window managers. This vulnerability manifests through multiple heap-based buffer overflows that occur when processing specially crafted image files, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise affected systems. The flaw specifically targets the memory management routines within imlib's image processing capabilities, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through malformed input data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, out-of-bounds write, where attackers can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap. The flaw operates by manipulating image file parsing routines that fail to validate input boundaries before writing data to allocated memory segments. When imlib processes maliciously crafted image files, the buffer overflow conditions cause memory corruption that can lead to unpredictable application behavior, including crashes or potentially arbitrary code execution within the context of the vulnerable application. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the memory corruption affects the program's dynamic memory allocation structures, making exploitation more complex but potentially more impactful than stack-based buffer overflows.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems running affected applications as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential system compromise, particularly when the vulnerable applications run with elevated privileges or are used in environments where users might encounter untrusted image content. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various vectors including web browsing, file sharing, or any scenario where users might be prompted to view image files processed by vulnerable imlib implementations. The widespread adoption of gkrellm and window managers utilizing imlib means that this vulnerability affects numerous desktop environments and potentially server configurations where these applications are deployed.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1025 primarily focus on immediate software updates to versions of imlib that address the identified buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and ensuring that all applications utilizing imlib are updated to versions that include proper input validation and memory boundary checking. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while application sandboxing techniques can contain the effects of successful exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing file validation mechanisms for image content, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted image files. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would include techniques such as T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, emphasizing the multi-layered approach required for comprehensive protection against this class of vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable imlib implementations within the organization's infrastructure.