CVE-2009-0792 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in icc.c in the International Color Consortium (ICC) Format library (aka icclib), as used in Ghostscript 8.64 and earlier and Argyll Color Management System (CMS) 1.0.3 and earlier, allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code by using a device file for a translation request that operates on a crafted image file and targets a certain "native color space," related to an ICC profile in a (1) PostScript or (2) PDF file with embedded images. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-0583.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0792 represents a critical security flaw within the International Color Consortium ICC Format library, specifically within the icc.c component that forms part of the icclib software suite. This vulnerability affects major software systems including Ghostscript versions 8.64 and earlier, as well as Argyll Color Management System versions 1.0.3 and earlier. The flaw manifests as multiple integer overflows that occur during the processing of color profile data, particularly when handling device files for translation requests involving crafted image files that target specific native color spaces. The issue stems from an incomplete remediation of a previously identified vulnerability CVE-2009-0583, creating a persistent security weakness that attackers can exploit to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of integer values during ICC profile processing, where the software fails to properly validate or constrain numeric inputs when calculating buffer sizes or memory allocation requirements. When an attacker crafts a malicious image file with specific ICC profile data and submits it through a PostScript or PDF document containing embedded images, the system's handling of the native color space specification triggers integer overflow conditions in the icc.c library. These overflows occur in heap-based memory regions, causing the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers or corrupt existing memory structures, which ultimately leads to application instability and potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to cause heap-based buffer overflows that may result in application crashes, system instability, or more severe consequences when the overflow conditions are carefully crafted to overwrite critical memory locations. The context-dependent nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions involving the interaction between the malicious input file, the target application's color management processing pipeline, and the particular color space specifications present in the ICC profile data. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users process untrusted documents or images, as the attack surface expands to include any application that utilizes the vulnerable icclib components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-0792 should focus on immediate patching of affected software versions, with system administrators prioritizing updates to Ghostscript and Argyll CMS to versions that contain complete fixes for both CVE-2009-0792 and its precursor CVE-2009-0583. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures for all document processing workflows, particularly those involving image files with embedded color profiles, and consider deploying sandboxing mechanisms to isolate color management operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through document processing, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls around file handling and color management systems. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation to limit exposure, regular security assessments of document processing pipelines, and implementation of automated threat detection systems capable of identifying suspicious color profile data patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.