CVE-2010-2527 in FreeType
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in demo programs in FreeType before 2.4.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted font file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2527 represents a critical security flaw affecting the FreeType font rendering library, which is widely deployed across operating systems and applications for handling font processing. This issue specifically targets demo programs bundled with FreeType versions prior to 2.4.0, making it particularly dangerous as these demonstration components are often included in software distributions and may be executed in various contexts. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the font parsing routines, creating exploitable conditions that can be triggered through maliciously crafted font files. The affected FreeType versions represent a significant portion of installations across desktop and mobile platforms, as the library serves as a foundational component for graphics rendering in numerous software ecosystems. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread exploitation potential.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through multiple buffer overflow conditions that occur when the demo programs process specially crafted font files. These buffer overflows arise from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of font headers and glyph data structures, allowing attackers to write beyond allocated memory buffers. The flaw specifically affects the handling of font format structures such as TrueType and OpenType font files, where the parsing code fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before attempting to copy or process it into fixed-size buffers. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflows, indicating the complexity and severity of the memory corruption issues present. Attackers can leverage these conditions to either crash applications through stack corruption or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution by carefully crafting input that overwrites critical memory locations including return addresses or function pointers.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2527 extends far beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability can be exploited across multiple attack vectors within the computing environment. Applications that utilize FreeType for font rendering, including web browsers, office suites, graphic design tools, and mobile operating systems, become susceptible to remote code execution when processing malicious font files. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through compromised applications, and T1203, which describes the use of malicious files for code execution. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised simply by viewing a webpage or opening a document containing the malicious font, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise and consumer environments where automatic font rendering occurs. Additionally, the vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile platforms, creating a broad attack surface that includes operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and various mobile operating systems that incorporate FreeType for their graphics rendering capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2527 require immediate action to update FreeType libraries to version 2.4.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected platforms, particularly focusing on applications that handle untrusted font files from external sources. The implementation of input validation measures at the application level can provide additional protection by sanitizing font file inputs before processing, though this approach should complement rather than replace the core library updates. Network-based defenses should include monitoring for suspicious font file downloads and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted font processing components. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through crafted font files, as the attack signatures often include specific patterns in font structure data. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date font rendering libraries and implementing proper security practices in graphics processing components, as these systems often operate with elevated privileges and can serve as entry points for broader system compromise. Regular security assessments of font handling code and implementation of secure coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of font rendering libraries.