CVE-2013-1960 in libtiff
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the t2p_process_jpeg_strip function in tiff2pdf in libtiff 4.0.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted TIFF image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1960 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the libtiff library's tiff2pdf utility, specifically affecting the t2p_process_jpeg_strip function. This flaw exists in libtiff versions 4.0.3 and earlier, creating a significant security risk for systems that process TIFF image files through the tiff2pdf conversion tool. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices when processing JPEG-encoded strips within TIFF containers, allowing attackers to manipulate the parsing logic through maliciously crafted image files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the t2p_process_jpeg_strip function fails to properly validate the size of JPEG data segments before attempting to copy or process them into heap-allocated buffers. This inadequate boundary checking creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overflow the allocated memory space, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and causing unpredictable behavior. The flaw manifests during the conversion process when tiff2pdf encounters malformed JPEG strips within TIFF files, triggering the buffer overflow condition that can lead to application crashes or more severe consequences.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to systems that automatically process or convert TIFF images, particularly in environments where user-uploaded content is handled without proper validation. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed TIFF files containing malformed JPEG data, which when processed by vulnerable applications, will trigger the buffer overflow. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution, making this a critical vulnerability for any system processing untrusted image data. Organizations using libtiff versions prior to 4.0.4 are particularly at risk, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise system integrity and availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1960 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to libtiff 4.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches addressing the heap overflow condition. System administrators should also implement input validation measures, including MIME type checking and file format verification, to prevent processing of potentially malicious TIFF files. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems and application firewalls can help identify and block suspicious file upload patterns. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable libtiff versions and establish robust patch management procedures to maintain security posture. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a technique commonly categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0005 (Defense Evasion) and technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) when exploited for remote code execution scenarios.