CVE-2011-0191 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in LibTIFF 3.9.4 and possibly other versions, as used in ImageIO in Apple iTunes before 10.2 on Windows and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted TIFF image with JPEG encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0191 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the LibTIFF library version 3.9.4 and potentially earlier versions. This security weakness specifically affects the ImageIO framework implementation within Apple iTunes version 10.2 and earlier on Windows platforms, though it may extend to other products utilizing the same vulnerable library components. The flaw manifests when the affected software processes TIFF images that employ JPEG encoding, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted image files can trigger unintended system behavior. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the TIFF parsing routines, particularly when handling JPEG-compressed image data that exceeds expected buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed TIFF image file that contains malformed JPEG encoding data. When the vulnerable iTunes application attempts to process such an image, the LibTIFF library fails to properly validate the size and structure of the JPEG data within the TIFF container. This validation failure allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crash. The buffer overflow specifically occurs during the decompression and parsing of JPEG-encoded image data within the TIFF file structure, where the library allocates a fixed-size buffer that cannot accommodate the maliciously oversized data payload. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, though it may also exhibit characteristics of heap-based buffer overflows depending on the specific memory allocation patterns within the LibTIFF implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0191 extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that could be leveraged by attackers. An attacker could deliver a malicious TIFF image file through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms, potentially compromising systems running vulnerable versions of iTunes or other affected software. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that users need not be technically sophisticated to fall victim to attacks, as simply opening or previewing the malicious image file could trigger the exploit. This creates significant risk for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter such files, and for individual users who may download images from untrusted sources. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability can also be weaponized to disrupt legitimate services or create persistent availability issues for affected applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0191 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest versions of iTunes and LibTIFF that contain the necessary security fixes. Apple released iTunes 10.2 and subsequent versions that addressed this vulnerability, making it essential for users to update their installations promptly. Organizations should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of iTunes or other affected products, particularly those that process untrusted image files. Network-based mitigations could include implementing content filtering rules that block TIFF image files from untrusted sources or deploying sandboxing solutions that isolate image processing operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in security-critical libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle buffer overflow exploits in image processing libraries.