CVE-2005-2976 in GTK+
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in io-xpm.c in gdk-pixbuf 0.22.0 in GTK+ before 2.8.7 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via an XPM file with large height, width, and colour values, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-3186.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2976 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the gdk-pixbuf library component of the GTK+ graphical toolkit ecosystem. This flaw exists specifically in the io-xpm.c module of gdk-pixbuf version 0.22.0 and affects GTK+ versions prior to 2.8.7. The vulnerability manifests when processing XPM (X PixMap) image files, which are commonly used for storing simple graphics and icons in Unix-like systems and graphical applications. XPM files contain metadata including dimensions and color information that the library must parse and handle during image loading operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the image parsing logic. When an attacker crafts an XPM file containing excessively large values for height, width, and color parameters, the library's internal calculations can overflow standard integer data types. This occurs because the application fails to validate input parameters against maximum allowable values before performing arithmetic operations. The integer overflow can result in memory corruption, where calculated buffer sizes or loop counters exceed the bounds of allocated memory regions, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can cause applications using gdk-pixbuf to crash or, in more sophisticated scenarios, inject and execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where applications process untrusted image files, such as web browsers, image viewers, or any application that loads XPM images from external sources. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203, focusing on exploitation of input validation weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected GTK+ installations to version 2.8.7 or later, where the integer overflow protections have been implemented. System administrators should also implement input validation measures that restrict XPM file parameters to reasonable bounds and consider deploying sandboxing mechanisms for applications that process external image files. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected GTK+ versions and ensure proper security updates are applied across their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in graphics processing libraries, as these components often handle untrusted data from various sources within application ecosystems.