CVE-2013-7447 in GTK+
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the gdk_cairo_set_source_pixbuf function in gdk/gdkcairo.c in GTK+ before 3.9.8, as used in eom, gnome-photos, eog, gambas3, thunar, pinpoint, and possibly other applications, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a large image file, which triggers a large memory allocation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7447 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the GTK+ graphical toolkit library that affects numerous desktop applications across the Linux ecosystem. This issue specifically resides in the gdk_cairo_set_source_pixbuf function located in the gdk/gdkcairo.c source file, where improper handling of integer values leads to unexpected behavior when processing image data. The vulnerability impacts GTK+ versions prior to 3.9.8 and affects a wide range of applications including Eye of GNOME, Evolution, Thunar file manager, and various other software that relies on the GTK+ framework for graphical user interface components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs when the function processes image file dimensions that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type being used. When an attacker provides a specially crafted image file with extremely large dimensions, the calculation within the gdk_cairo_set_source_pixbuf function results in an integer overflow, causing the system to attempt allocating an abnormally large amount of memory. This memory allocation attempt typically fails or causes the application to crash, resulting in a denial of service condition that disrupts normal application functionality and user operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to systematically disrupt desktop environments and user workflows. Applications that utilize the affected GTK+ library components become susceptible to malicious image files that can trigger immediate crashes upon image loading or display operations. This vulnerability particularly affects image viewing and management applications where users might unknowingly open maliciously crafted image files, making it a significant concern for desktop security and user experience. The widespread adoption of GTK+ across various Linux desktop environments and applications amplifies the potential attack surface, as numerous software packages could be vulnerable to similar exploitation vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected GTK+ versions to 3.9.8 or later, where the integer overflow has been properly addressed through enhanced input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize updating their desktop environments and applications that rely on GTK+ components to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and validation at the application level can provide defense-in-depth measures, ensuring that image file dimensions are checked against reasonable limits before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and content filtering to prevent potentially malicious image files from reaching end-user systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and represents a classic example of how improper integer handling can lead to denial of service conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service technique through resource exhaustion, where the overflow condition leads to unintended memory allocation patterns that can crash applications and disrupt user access to desktop services.