CVE-2015-1859 in Qt
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the QtBase module in Qt before 4.8.7 and 5.x before 5.4.2 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted ICO image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1859 represents a critical security flaw within the QtBase module of the Qt framework, affecting versions prior to 4.8.7 and 5.x prior to 5.4.2. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflows that occur during the processing of crafted ICO image files, demonstrating the dangerous potential of image parsing vulnerabilities in widely-used cross-platform application frameworks. The Qt framework serves as the foundation for numerous desktop and mobile applications across various operating systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the ICO image parsing functionality of QtBase. When processing maliciously crafted ICO files, the framework fails to properly bounds-check buffer allocations, leading to memory corruption that can result in stack or heap overflows. These buffer overflows occur specifically during the decompression and rendering processes of ICO format images, where the application attempts to read image data into fixed-size buffers without adequate validation of the input data length. The flaw operates at the level of image format parsing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through any application that utilizes Qt for image handling, regardless of the application's specific security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1859 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, representing a significant escalation in threat potential. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious ICO files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. When a vulnerable application processes such a crafted image, the buffer overflow can corrupt memory structures, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting desktop applications built on Qt, as it provides a pathway for privilege escalation and persistent access to affected systems.
The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, both of which are fundamental weaknesses in memory management that the QtBase module failed to adequately address. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through application execution, and T1203 for exploitation of remote services, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious payloads remotely. Organizations using Qt-based applications should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Qt versions 4.8.7 or 5.4.2 and later, which contain proper bounds checking and memory management fixes for ICO image processing. Additionally, implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and email filtering solutions can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts.