CVE-2008-6079 in imlib2
Summary
by MITRE
imlib2 before 1.4.2 allows context-dependent attackers to have an unspecified impact via a crafted (1) ARGB, (2) BMP, (3) JPEG, (4) LBM, (5) PNM, (6) TGA, or (7) XPM file, related to "several heap and stack based buffer overflows - partly due to integer overflows."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6079 affects the imlib2 library version 1.4.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables context-dependent attackers to execute unspecified malicious actions through the manipulation of various image file formats. This vulnerability specifically targets the library's handling of image files including ARGB, BMP, JPEG, LBM, PNM, TGA, and XPM formats, exposing the underlying software to potential exploitation. The flaw stems from heap and stack based buffer overflows that are partially caused by integer overflows during the processing of these image files, creating a dangerous condition where memory corruption can occur.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the imlib2 library's insufficient validation and bounds checking when parsing image file headers and data structures. When processing malformed image files, the library fails to properly validate integer values used for memory allocation calculations, leading to integer overflows that subsequently cause buffer overflows in heap or stack memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length fields, and CWE-190, which covers integer overflow or wraparound conditions. The exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts malicious image files with specially designed header values that trigger these integer overflow conditions, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution or denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple system components that rely on imlib2 for image processing functionality, including desktop environments, image viewers, web browsers, and various multimedia applications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious image files through various attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms, potentially compromising systems running affected software versions. The vulnerability's context-dependent nature means that successful exploitation requires specific conditions related to how the vulnerable library is invoked and the particular image file format being processed. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate user interactions with image files, creating a significant risk for both individual users and enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected imlib2 installations to version 1.4.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the identified buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all systems using vulnerable imlib2 versions and prioritize patch deployment across the enterprise environment. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file validation mechanisms, deploying sandboxed environments for image processing, and establishing content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious image files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow protection and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.