CVE-2004-1726 in John Bradley
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in (1) xviris.c, (2) xvpcx.c, and (3) xvpm.c in XV allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted image file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1726 represents a critical security flaw affecting the X Window System's XV image viewer utility, specifically targeting three source code files within the xviris.c xvpcx.c and xvpm.c modules. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during image file processing, creating conditions where maliciously crafted image files can trigger heap-based buffer overflows. The issue occurs when the application processes image data without adequate bounds checking on integer values that determine buffer allocation sizes, leading to situations where allocated memory regions become insufficient for the actual data being processed. These integer overflows create predictable memory corruption patterns that attackers can exploit to manipulate program execution flow and potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of integer values that control buffer allocation in memory management routines. When xv processes image files containing specially crafted data, the integer overflow conditions cause the application to allocate insufficient heap memory for the actual image data being loaded. This results in memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program variables or function pointers, enabling attackers to redirect program execution to malicious code injected into the heap memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a graphical image viewer, which is commonly used by users and often executed with elevated privileges when handling image files from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1726 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a remote code execution vector that can be exploited through various attack scenarios. An attacker could deliver a malicious image file through email attachments web downloads or file sharing systems, requiring no special privileges to initiate the attack. The vulnerability affects systems running the X Window System with the XV image viewer installed, making it particularly relevant in Unix and Linux environments where graphical interfaces are prevalent. The heap-based nature of the buffer overflow provides attackers with multiple exploitation techniques including return-oriented programming and stack pivoting, which can bypass traditional security mechanisms like stack canaries and address space layout randomization. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190 which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with updated versions of the XV utility that include proper integer overflow checks and bounds validation. System administrators should implement strict file type validation and scanning procedures for image files received from untrusted sources, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to malicious content. Network segmentation and privilege separation techniques can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that all image processing applications have been updated to address similar integer overflow vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of input validation in multimedia processing applications and highlights how seemingly benign operations like image loading can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of image viewers to trusted environments and ensure that all third-party software components undergo thorough security reviews for similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.