CVE-2016-10268 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
tools/tiffcp.c in LibTIFF 4.0.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (integer underflow and heap-based buffer under-read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted TIFF image, related to "READ of size 78490" and libtiff/tif_unix.c:115:23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10268 resides within the LibTIFF 4.0.7 library, specifically in the tools/tiffcp.c component that handles command-line image processing operations. This flaw represents a critical security issue that can be exploited by remote attackers through the manipulation of specially crafted TIFF image files. The vulnerability manifests as both integer underflow conditions and heap-based buffer under-read scenarios, creating a complex attack surface that can potentially lead to system instability or arbitrary code execution. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects the core image processing functionality that is widely used across various applications and systems for handling raster graphics data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the TIFF file parsing logic. When processing maliciously constructed TIFF files, the system encounters integer underflow conditions that cause calculations to wrap around to extremely small values, subsequently leading to heap-based buffer under-reads. The specific location of the issue is identified in libtiff/tif_unix.c at line 115:23, where memory access patterns become unpredictable and potentially dangerous. This integer underflow occurs during the calculation of buffer sizes or array indices, causing the system to attempt memory operations that exceed allocated boundaries. The "READ of size 78490" reference indicates the specific memory access pattern that triggers the vulnerability, where the system attempts to read a large amount of data from memory locations that may not contain sufficient data or may be unmapped.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to crash applications that utilize LibTIFF for image processing, creating persistent denial of service conditions that affect legitimate users. The unspecified other impacts referenced in the vulnerability description suggest potential for more severe consequences including information disclosure, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution in certain environments. This vulnerability affects systems that process untrusted TIFF image data, which includes web applications, image processing servers, and any software that relies on LibTIFF for raster graphics handling. The widespread adoption of LibTIFF across multiple operating systems and applications amplifies the potential attack surface, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain up-to-date software versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10268 should prioritize immediate software updates to LibTIFF 4.0.8 or later versions that contain the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures for all TIFF image data processed by their systems, including the use of sandboxed environments and automated scanning tools that can detect potentially malicious image files before they are processed. Network-based mitigations could include implementing content filtering solutions that block suspicious TIFF files or restricting access to image processing services from untrusted networks. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which describes integer underflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-129, which covers insufficient validation of array indexing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access or privilege escalation tactics, particularly when targeting systems that process untrusted image data or when combined with other exploitation techniques that exploit similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in image processing libraries.