CVE-2013-3480 in Sagelight
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Sagelight 4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted width and height dimensions in a BMP file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3480 represents a critical security flaw in Sagelight software version 4.4 and earlier, specifically targeting the image processing functionality that handles.bmp file formats. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the software's bitmap image parser, creating a pathway for remote code execution through maliciously crafted image files. The flaw exists in the way the application processes width and height parameters in bmp file headers, where integer overflow conditions can be exploited to manipulate memory allocation decisions.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on integer overflow vulnerabilities that fall under the CWE-190 category, specifically involving unsigned integer overflow conditions that can lead to heap-based buffer overflows. When a malicious user uploads or processes a specially crafted bmp file containing oversized width and height values, the application's internal arithmetic operations fail to properly validate these dimensions, resulting in incorrect memory allocation calculations. This miscalculation causes the software to allocate insufficient memory for the image buffer, subsequently leading to heap corruption when the application attempts to write image data beyond the allocated boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector that can compromise entire systems running vulnerable versions of Sagelight software. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that bmp files are commonly used in various applications and can be easily distributed through web content, email attachments, or file sharing platforms, making the exploitation vector highly accessible to threat actors.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for code execution, and T1059, covering the execution of malicious code through compromised applications. The vulnerability's remediation requires immediate patching of Sagelight software to version 4.5 or later, where the integer overflow conditions have been properly addressed through enhanced input validation and overflow detection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and file validation controls to prevent the processing of untrusted image files, particularly in environments where user-uploaded content is permitted.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of robust input validation and secure coding practices in multimedia processing applications. Software vendors must implement comprehensive testing procedures including fuzzing and boundary condition testing to identify similar integer overflow vulnerabilities in image parsing libraries and other multimedia components. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include runtime monitoring and application whitelisting to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy software systems.