CVE-2007-3473 in GD Graphics Library
Summary
by MITRE
The gdImageCreateXbm function in the GD Graphics Library (libgd) before 2.0.35 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via unspecified vectors involving a gdImageCreate failure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3473 resides within the GD Graphics Library, specifically affecting the gdImageCreateXbm function in versions prior to 2.0.35. This flaw represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers with user assistance, potentially leading to application crashes and system instability. The GD Graphics Library serves as a fundamental component for image processing in numerous web applications and server environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread impact. The issue manifests when the function encounters certain malformed input data that triggers a failure during image creation processes, ultimately resulting in application termination or system crash.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the gdImageCreateXbm function, which fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting to create XBM format image objects. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and error handling, categorized under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and CWE-704 as "Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast." The vulnerability operates through unspecified vectors that likely involve malformed image data or memory allocation failures during the XBM creation process, where the library does not adequately check for memory allocation failures or invalid input parameters before proceeding with image generation. The lack of proper bounds checking and resource management during the image creation process creates an exploitable condition that can be triggered remotely through crafted input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect any application or system that relies on the GD Graphics Library for image processing capabilities. Web servers, content management systems, image processing applications, and any software that accepts user-uploaded images or generates dynamic graphics are potentially at risk. The vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to perform persistent denial of service attacks against web applications, potentially causing cascading failures in systems that depend on image processing functionality. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 as "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1595.001 as "Network Denial of Service," as it can be executed remotely and affects system availability. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3473 primarily focus on immediate remediation through library version updates, with organizations required to upgrade to libgd version 2.0.35 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary updates promptly. Additionally, input validation measures should be implemented at application layers to filter or reject potentially malicious image data before it reaches the underlying graphics library. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling and resource management in security-critical libraries, reinforcing the need for robust software quality assurance practices. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing or containerization to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, ensuring that even if exploitation occurs, the damage remains contained within isolated environments.