CVE-2006-3145 in NetPBM
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in pamtofits of NetPBM 10.30 through 10.33 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code when assembling the header, possibly related to an off-by-one error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3145 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the pamtofits utility of the NetPBM image processing library version 10.30 through 10.33. This flaw exists in the header assembly process of the pamtofits component, which is responsible for converting PAM (Portable Arbitrary Map) image format files to FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format commonly used in astronomical data processing. The buffer overflow occurs when the application processes malformed input data during the header construction phase, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an off-by-one error in the memory allocation and data handling logic within the pamtofits utility. When processing certain input parameters or image metadata during header creation, the application fails to properly validate the length of data being copied into fixed-size buffers. This specific type of flaw falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability manifests as a classic stack-based buffer overflow that can potentially corrupt the program's execution flow, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or more severe consequences.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems utilizing NetPBM for image processing tasks, particularly in environments where external data sources are processed without proper validation. The remote attack vector means that adversaries could exploit this flaw through network-based interactions with applications that rely on pamtofits functionality, potentially causing denial of service conditions that could disrupt critical image processing workflows. In some scenarios, the buffer overflow could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, though the exploitability of this code execution aspect depends on various system configurations and security mitigations in place.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system compromise, especially in environments where NetPBM libraries are widely deployed. Organizations using astronomical software, image processing pipelines, or any system that relies on NetPBM for format conversion may face operational risks ranging from temporary service unavailability to full system compromise. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers the exploitation of input validation weaknesses in software components. System administrators should prioritize patching affected installations and implementing input validation controls to prevent exploitation attempts, while also considering network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3145 include immediate deployment of updated NetPBM versions that address the buffer overflow condition, along with comprehensive input validation measures to prevent malformed data processing. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish robust patch management procedures to maintain system integrity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking in memory management operations and underscores the necessity of thorough security testing for image processing libraries that handle external input data. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and privilege separation techniques to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs.