CVE-2012-0275 in Photoshop
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Photoshop.exe in Adobe Photoshop CS5 12.x before 12.0.5, CS5.1 12.1.x before 12.1.1, and CS6 13.x before 13.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TIFF image with SGI24LogLum compression.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0275 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Adobe Photoshop's handling of TIFF image files, specifically when processing SGI24LogLum compression. This issue affects multiple versions of Adobe Photoshop including CS5 12.x before 12.0.5, CS5.1 12.1.x before 12.1.1, and CS6 13.x before 13.0.1. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and memory management during the decompression process of specially crafted TIFF files that utilize the SGI24LogLum compression algorithm. The vulnerability is classified as a heap overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where data is written beyond the boundaries of heap-allocated memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through malicious file manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Photoshop processes a crafted TIFF image containing SGI24LogLum compression data. The application fails to properly validate the size and structure of the compressed data before attempting to decompress it into heap memory. When the decompression routine encounters malformed data, it writes beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. This memory corruption can be exploited by attackers to manipulate program execution flow and ultimately achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attacker can potentially overwrite critical heap metadata or control structures, making the exploitation more reliable and predictable than stack-based buffer overflows.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0275 is severe and far-reaching, particularly in enterprise environments where Adobe Photoshop is widely deployed for image processing and creative workflows. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file sharing platforms without requiring any special privileges or authentication. The vulnerability is especially dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Photoshop, potentially leading to complete system compromise. In addition to direct exploitation, this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, enabling attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware. The widespread use of Photoshop in creative industries, graphic design firms, and media organizations makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise high-value targets.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0275 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Photoshop versions to the latest available releases. Adobe has addressed this vulnerability in subsequent updates, specifically releasing patches for CS5.0.5, CS5.1.1, and CS6.0.1. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies and consider deploying sandboxing solutions or restricted execution environments when processing untrusted image files. Network-based mitigations include implementing file type filtering at network boundaries to prevent the transmission of TIFF files with SGI24LogLum compression. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary image format support in Photoshop installations and implementing monitoring for suspicious file processing activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices, highlighting how inadequate bounds checking in legacy code can create persistent security risks that remain exploitable for years after initial discovery. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory corruption issues in other applications and systems that may be susceptible to similar exploitation techniques.