CVE-2005-0654 in GIMP
Summary
by MITRE
gifload.exe in GIMP 2.0.5, 2.2.3, and possibly 2.2.4 allows remote attackers or local users to cause a denial of service (application crash) via the image descriptor (1) height or (2) width fields set to zero.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0654 affects gifload.exe component within GIMP versions 2.0.5, 2.2.3, and potentially 2.2.4. This represents a classic denial of service flaw that can be exploited by both remote attackers and local users to disrupt the normal operation of the graphics processing application. The vulnerability specifically targets the image descriptor handling mechanism within the GIF loading functionality, where the software fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them.
The technical flaw manifests when the image descriptor fields for height or width are set to zero values. This condition creates a critical processing error within the gifload.exe module, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the GIF file parsing routine. When the software attempts to process a GIF image with zero-valued dimensions, it likely triggers division by zero operations or attempts to allocate memory blocks of zero size, resulting in application instability and potential system resource exhaustion.
This vulnerability impacts the availability and reliability of the GIMP application, as users cannot properly load or process GIF images that contain malformed descriptor fields. The operational impact extends beyond simple application crashes, potentially affecting workflow processes for graphic designers and digital artists who rely on GIMP for image manipulation tasks. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing applications that handle user-supplied data formats.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and CWE-248, which covers exposure of an uninitialized variable. The attack vector allows for remote exploitation through malicious GIF files, making it particularly concerning for web-based environments where users might unknowingly encounter compromised image files. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting application availability.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected GIMP versions to address the input validation issues in the gifload.exe component. System administrators should implement network filtering to prevent the automatic download of potentially malicious GIF files, particularly in environments where users have limited administrative privileges. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted image files and encouraged to update to patched versions of GIMP. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of implementing proper error handling mechanisms and input validation routines in multimedia processing applications to prevent similar issues in future software releases.