CVE-2013-4244 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
The LZW decompressor in the gif2tiff tool in libtiff 4.0.3 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write and crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted GIF image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4244 represents a critical security flaw within the libtiff library's gif2tiff tool version 4.0.3 and earlier. This issue manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs during the decompression of GIF images, specifically when processing LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) encoded data. The vulnerability exists in the handling of malformed GIF files that contain crafted sequences which cause the decompressor to write data beyond the bounds of allocated memory buffers. The affected component is part of the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) library commonly used for image processing in various applications and systems. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of improper input validation where the tool fails to adequately check the bounds of compressed data during decompression operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the LZW decompressor implementation within the gif2tiff utility, which processes GIF images and converts them to TIFF format. When encountering specially crafted GIF files, the decompressor does not properly validate the length of data sequences or the indices used during the decompression process. This leads to out-of-bounds memory writes that can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially causing application crashes or more severe consequences. The vulnerability is context-dependent meaning that the malicious input must be specifically crafted to trigger the flaw, and it requires the targeted system to process the malicious GIF file through the vulnerable gif2tiff tool. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the CWE-121 category, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for arbitrary code execution through memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable remote code execution in certain environments. When exploited successfully, attackers can cause applications using the vulnerable libtiff library to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in server environments or applications that process untrusted image files from external sources. The attack vector typically involves delivering a maliciously crafted GIF file to a system running software that utilizes the vulnerable gif2tiff tool or libtiff library. The vulnerability affects systems where the libtiff library is used for image conversion or processing, including but not limited to web applications, image processing servers, and content management systems that handle GIF to TIFF conversions. Organizations using affected versions of libtiff should consider the potential for both service disruption and security compromise when evaluating their risk exposure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4244 primarily focus on upgrading to patched versions of the libtiff library where the LZW decompressor has been corrected to properly validate input data and prevent out-of-bounds memory operations. System administrators should prioritize updating their libtiff installations to version 4.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where updating software is not immediately possible. Organizations should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to deliver malicious GIF files, and implementing application whitelisting to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable tools. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates in third-party software components. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems that may be using affected versions of libtiff and ensure that appropriate remediation measures are implemented across their infrastructure.