CVE-2007-4964 in WinImage
Summary
by MITRE
WinImage 8.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via an invalid BPB_BytsPerSec field in the header of a .IMG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4964 affects WinImage version 8.10 and earlier, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely through malformed file structures. This issue specifically targets the handling of .IMG file headers where the BPB_BytsPerSec field contains invalid data, creating a condition that leads to an infinite loop during file processing. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or parsing error pattern where the application fails to properly validate input data before attempting to process it, resulting in a system resource exhaustion scenario.
The technical flaw manifests in the way WinImage processes disk image files, particularly when parsing the boot parameter block within the .IMG file header structure. The BPB_BytsPerSec field, which should contain a valid byte count per sector, becomes corrupted or malformed in a manner that causes the application to enter an infinite loop during header validation. This occurs because the software does not implement proper bounds checking or input sanitization for this critical field, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted .IMG files that trigger the problematic code path. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, which specifically addresses weaknesses related to insufficient validation of input data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that rely on WinImage for disk image management or system recovery operations. Attackers can remotely trigger the denial of service condition by simply providing a malicious .IMG file to a system running vulnerable WinImage software, causing the application to consume excessive CPU resources or become unresponsive entirely. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in automated environments or systems where WinImage is used for critical infrastructure operations. The infinite loop condition effectively renders the target system unable to process legitimate .IMG files until the affected application is manually restarted, potentially disrupting business operations and system availability.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion. The flaw represents a particularly insidious form of denial of service because it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can deliver a malicious file to a vulnerable system. Organizations using WinImage for system recovery, disk imaging, or virtual machine management are at risk, particularly those that automatically process or accept .IMG files from external sources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in file format parsers, as similar issues could potentially exist in other disk image processing applications that fail to validate header structures adequately.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates to versions that address the input validation issue in the BPB_BytsPerSec field handling. Organizations should also implement file validation procedures that scan .IMG files for malformed headers before processing, particularly in automated environments. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual CPU usage patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing sandboxed environments for processing untrusted .IMG files to prevent the denial of service from affecting critical system operations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust input validation in file processing applications and the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in file format parsers.