CVE-2015-8781 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
tif_luv.c in libtiff allows attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds write) via an invalid number of samples per pixel in a LogL compressed TIFF image, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8782.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8781 affects the libtiff library's handling of TIFF image files, specifically within the tif_luv.c component responsible for processing LogL compressed images. This flaw represents a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted TIFF files. The issue manifests when the library encounters a TIFF image containing an invalid number of samples per pixel in a LogL compressed format, creating a scenario where memory access exceeds allocated boundaries.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation within the TIFF file parsing mechanism. When libtiff processes a LogL compressed TIFF image, it fails to properly validate the number of samples per pixel parameter, allowing an attacker to specify an invalid value that subsequently triggers memory corruption during decompression operations. This particular flaw falls under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and specifically demonstrates how improper bounds checking can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition because the out-of-bounds write can cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, rendering the system unable to process legitimate TIFF files.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process TIFF image files, particularly those used in document management, image processing, and digital asset management platforms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious TIFF files that, when opened or processed by vulnerable applications, will trigger the out-of-bounds write condition. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment, as memory corruption vulnerabilities often serve as entry points for privilege escalation or remote code execution scenarios. This vulnerability affects any software that relies on libtiff version 4.0.3 or earlier for TIFF image processing, making it particularly widespread across various operating systems and applications.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to libtiff version 4.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should deploy input validation controls that filter or reject TIFF files with suspicious parameters, particularly those containing invalid samples per pixel values. Network-based defenses can include implementing content filtering solutions that scan TIFF files for malformed structures, while application-level defenses should incorporate proper error handling and memory safety mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1499, covering network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for TIFF processing, as recommended in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to isolate vulnerable applications from critical system resources and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.