CVE-2013-7455 in Little
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in the DefaultICCintents function in cmscnvrt.c in liblcms2 in Little CMS 2.x before 2.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed ICC profile that triggers an error in the default intent handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The CVE-2013-7455 vulnerability represents a critical double free condition within the Little CMS 2 library implementation, specifically within the DefaultICCintents function located in cmscnvrt.c. This flaw exists in liblcms2 versions prior to 2.6 and demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability manifests when processing malformed ICC profiles, which are color profile files used to ensure consistent color representation across different devices and applications. When an attacker crafts a specially designed ICC profile that triggers an error condition in the default intent handler, the software executes a double free operation, where the same memory block is freed twice, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes double free conditions in memory management operations. The flaw occurs during the processing of ICC color profiles where the DefaultICCintents function fails to properly handle error conditions, resulting in the same memory allocation being released twice. This creates a heap corruption scenario that can be leveraged by attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through the processing of color profile files, which are commonly encountered in image processing workflows, document handling, and multimedia applications that utilize the Little CMS library for color management.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7455 extends across numerous applications and systems that depend on liblcms2 for color profile handling, including graphic design software, document management systems, web browsers, and image processing applications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a malicious ICC profile through various attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. When the vulnerable application processes this malformed profile, the double free condition can lead to memory corruption that allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise systems through common multimedia processing workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7455 primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to liblcms2 version 2.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the double free condition. Organizations should also implement strict input validation for ICC profile processing, particularly in applications that handle untrusted color profile data from external sources. Network-based defenses can include filtering of suspicious file types and implementing sandboxing mechanisms for color profile processing operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and memory corruption, with potential lateral movement capabilities once initial compromise occurs. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns and implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected components that may utilize the vulnerable library.