CVE-2008-5316 in cms color engine
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the ReadEmbeddedTextTag function in src/cmsio1.c in Little cms color engine (aka lcms) before 1.16 allows attackers to have an unknown impact via vectors related to a length parameter inconsistency involving the contents of "the input file," a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-2741.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
The CVE-2008-5316 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Little CMS color management engine, specifically within the ReadEmbeddedTextTag function located in src/cmsio1.c. This vulnerability affects Little CMS versions prior to 1.16 and demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption. The flaw occurs when processing color profile files, particularly those containing embedded text tags, where the length parameter inconsistency creates an exploitable condition that can result in arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the color profile parsing routine. When Little CMS processes an input file containing embedded text tags, the ReadEmbeddedTextTag function fails to adequately validate the length parameter against the actual data contained within the file. This parameter inconsistency allows attackers to craft malicious color profile files that, when processed by the vulnerable library, trigger buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability operates at the level of color management system parsing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through legitimate color profile handling operations commonly performed by applications and operating systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize Little CMS for color management operations, including image processing applications, print management systems, and any software that handles color profiles. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a critical concern for enterprise environments where color management is integral to document processing and graphic workflows. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing scenarios where users unknowingly process malicious color profiles.
The security implications of CVE-2008-5316 align with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, as exploitation may involve command execution through compromised color management processes, and T1203, representing the use of malicious files to gain system access. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems, as the vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all external input within color management libraries. The flaw highlights the necessity of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries that handle user-supplied content, particularly those operating in security-sensitive environments where color profile manipulation occurs frequently.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Little CMS version 1.16 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies for color profile handling, particularly in environments where users may process untrusted files. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting access to vulnerable applications and preventing automatic processing of color profiles from untrusted sources. Regular security assessments should include verification of color management library versions and implementation of proper input sanitization procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in related systems.