CVE-2015-8870 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in tools/bmp2tiff.c in LibTIFF before 4.0.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read), or possibly obtain sensitive information from process memory, via crafted width and length values in RLE4 or RLE8 data in a BMP file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8870 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the LibTIFF library's bmp2tiff conversion tool. This issue affects versions prior to 4.0.4 and specifically targets the handling of RLE4 and RLE8 compressed data within BMP files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling when processing width and length parameters in bitmap image data structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious BMP files containing manipulated width and height values that trigger integer overflow conditions during memory allocation calculations. The flaw manifests in the tools/bmp2tiff.c source file where the library fails to properly validate the mathematical operations involved in determining buffer sizes for decompressing RLE-encoded image data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leads to heap-based buffer over-read conditions that can result in unpredictable behavior and system instability. When the library processes malformed BMP files with crafted dimensions, the integer overflow causes incorrect memory allocation calculations, leading to memory access violations that may trigger denial of service conditions or potentially allow information disclosure from adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security concerns including buffer overflows, integer arithmetic errors, and memory safety issues that fall under CWE-190 for integer overflow and CWE-129 for improper validation of array indices. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the heap-based buffer over-read may expose sensitive process memory contents to attackers who can potentially extract confidential information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system configuration data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted image files, particularly web applications, file processing services, and content management systems that utilize LibTIFF for image conversion. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments or public-facing services. The vulnerability can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including automated exploitation campaigns targeting web servers, email systems processing image attachments, or file sharing platforms where users can upload BMP files. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution of malicious code through file processing, and T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations running affected versions of LibTIFF must implement immediate mitigations including software updates, input validation controls, and network segmentation to protect against potential exploitation. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to LibTIFF version 4.0.4 or later, which includes proper integer overflow checks and enhanced validation mechanisms for image data processing. Additionally, implementing proper sandboxing techniques and restricting file processing capabilities can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.