CVE-2007-1667 in libx11
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in (1) the XGetPixel function in ImUtil.c in X.Org libx11 before 1.0.3, and (2) XInitImage function in xwd.c for ImageMagick, allow user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or obtain sensitive information via crafted images with large or negative values that trigger a buffer overflow.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1667 represents a critical class of software flaws that can lead to significant security implications through integer overflow conditions. This issue affects two distinct software components within the X Window System and ImageMagick ecosystem, specifically targeting the XGetPixel function in X.Org libx11 library and the XInitImage function in ImageMagick's xwd.c file. Both vulnerabilities stem from improper handling of integer values that can exceed the maximum representable values for their respective data types, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate input parameters to trigger unexpected behavior in the affected applications.
The technical flaw manifests when applications process image data containing malformed or crafted parameters that result in integer overflows during buffer calculations or memory allocation operations. In the case of X.Org libx11's XGetPixel function, the vulnerability occurs when processing image pixel data where large or negative integer values are used to calculate buffer offsets or array indices. Similarly, ImageMagick's XInitImage function suffers from the same class of vulnerability when handling image format specifications that contain oversized dimensions or negative values. These integer overflows typically occur in the context of image parsing operations where developers fail to validate input parameters against expected ranges or perform proper bounds checking before using these values in memory calculations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable information disclosure and system instability. When triggered, these integer overflows can cause applications to crash due to buffer overflows or invalid memory access patterns, resulting in service disruption for legitimate users. More concerning is the potential for attackers to craft specific image files that could lead to information disclosure through memory corruption, where sensitive data from adjacent memory regions might be exposed during the overflow conditions. The remote attack vector indicates that these vulnerabilities can be exploited without requiring local access, making them particularly dangerous in networked environments where applications process untrusted image data from external sources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with multiple CWE classifications including CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound and CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, representing fundamental flaws in input validation and memory management practices. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability map to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, demonstrating how seemingly benign image processing operations can be weaponized for system compromise. The widespread use of these libraries across various operating systems and applications means that exploitation could affect numerous software products that depend on X.Org libx11 or ImageMagick for image handling capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1667 require immediate patching of affected software components to address the integer overflow conditions in both X.Org libx11 and ImageMagick implementations. System administrators should prioritize updating their X.Org X11 libraries to version 1.0.3 or later, while also ensuring ImageMagick installations are updated to versions that properly validate image parameters and implement robust input sanitization. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for image processing applications, deploying network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable services, and configuring applications to process images through sandboxed environments that can contain potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious image files based on known exploitation patterns associated with these integer overflow conditions.