CVE-2012-4564 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
ppm2tiff does not check the return value of the TIFFScanlineSize function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PPM image that triggers an integer overflow, a zero-memory allocation, and a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4564 resides within the ppm2tiff utility, a component of the LibTIFF library that facilitates conversion of PPM image files to TIFF format. This flaw manifests in the improper handling of TIFFScanlineSize function return values during image processing operations. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited remotely through crafted PPM image files, potentially leading to system compromise. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and error checking mechanisms within the image conversion pipeline, creating multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves several interconnected flaws that compound the security risk. When ppm2tiff processes a malicious PPM file, it fails to verify the return value of TIFFScanlineSize, which normally returns the size of a scanline in bytes. This oversight enables attackers to craft PPM images that trigger integer overflow conditions during size calculations. The integer overflow subsequently leads to zero-memory allocation scenarios where the application attempts to allocate memory blocks of zero size, followed by heap-based buffer overflow conditions. These cascading failures occur because the application does not validate that the calculated memory requirements are within acceptable bounds before proceeding with memory allocation and data processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4564 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to crash the target system through controlled denial of service attacks or, in more sophisticated scenarios, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where ppm2tiff is used to process untrusted image files, such as web applications, email systems, or content management platforms that accept image uploads. The vulnerability affects systems running affected versions of LibTIFF and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based file uploads, automated processing of user-submitted content, or network-based image processing services.
This vulnerability aligns with several CWE classifications including CWE-129 Input Validation, CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation through software exploitation and remote code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of the technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The attack surface is particularly broad since ppm2tiff is commonly used in various image processing workflows, making it a potentially attractive target for adversaries seeking to compromise systems through image file processing. Mitigation strategies should focus on input validation, proper error handling, and ensuring that all memory allocation operations are properly validated before execution.
The remediation approach for CVE-2012-4564 requires immediate patching of affected LibTIFF versions and implementation of proper error checking mechanisms within the ppm2tiff utility. Security teams should implement input validation measures that verify TIFFScanlineSize return values and enforce bounds checking on calculated memory requirements. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing techniques for image processing operations and establishing strict file format validation procedures. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling in security-critical applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor oversight in return value checking can lead to severe security consequences. Regular security audits and code reviews should focus on similar patterns of inadequate error validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software releases.