CVE-2012-2614 in Lattice Diamond Programmer
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in programmer.exe in Lattice Diamond Programmer 1.4.2 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and execute arbitrary code via a long string in a version attribute of an ispXCF element in an .xcf file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2614 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the programmer.exe component of Lattice Diamond Programmer version 1.4.2. This issue arises from insufficient input validation when processing ispXCF elements within .xcf files, specifically targeting the version attribute parameter. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit this weakness through user-assisted means, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by unsuspecting users who open maliciously crafted files. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, where the program writes data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the parsing routine of the ispXCF element structure. When the programmer.exe application encounters an .xcf file containing an ispXCF element with an excessively long version attribute, it fails to validate the string length before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow scenario allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The attack vector requires a user to open a specially crafted .xcf file containing malicious content, making it a user-assisted remote attack that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the exploit. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's memory management routines and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full arbitrary code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to application crashes, system instability, and potentially allow attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can deliver malicious .xcf files through various channels including email attachments, compromised websites, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the programming environment and can compromise the security of hardware development workflows that rely on Lattice Diamond Programmer for device configuration and programming tasks. Organizations using this software for embedded system development face significant risks as the attack could potentially lead to unauthorized access to hardware programming interfaces or disruption of critical development processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2614 should focus on immediate software updates from Lattice to address the buffer overflow vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and restrict user access to potentially malicious file types. Network-based protections can include content filtering solutions that scan .xcf files for suspicious attributes and malformed version strings. The implementation of application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques can help contain potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that the patched version of Lattice Diamond Programmer is properly deployed across all development environments. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying file sources and avoiding opening untrusted .xcf files. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual patterns in file processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in preventing buffer overflow attacks that can lead to complete system compromise.