CVE-2016-5315 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
The setByteArray function in tif_dir.c in libtiff 4.0.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted tiff image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5315 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the libtiff library version 4.0.6 and earlier. This issue resides in the setByteArray function located in the tif_dir.c source file, which forms part of the widely-used Tagged Image File Format library. The vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted TIFF image files, creating a scenario where remote attackers can trigger unintended memory access patterns that lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The flaw specifically affects the library's handling of byte array data structures during TIFF directory processing, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to traverse memory boundaries beyond intended allocation limits.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of TIFF image metadata, particularly within the directory structure that contains image tags and their associated data. When the setByteArray function processes malformed byte arrays, it fails to validate array boundaries before accessing memory locations, enabling attackers to craft TIFF files that cause the library to read memory beyond allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient bounds checking in array access operations, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can lead to unpredictable behavior in software applications. The out-of-bounds read condition can result in segmentation faults, application crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted TIFF image files, including web applications, image processing services, and document management systems. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where TIFF files are commonly exchanged. Systems utilizing libtiff versions prior to 4.0.7 are vulnerable, including various operating systems, content management platforms, and image processing applications that depend on this library for TIFF file handling. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the memory access violations could potentially be leveraged in more sophisticated attacks depending on the specific implementation details and memory protection mechanisms in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5315 focus primarily on upgrading to libtiff version 4.0.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems and applications that utilize vulnerable libtiff versions, particularly those handling user-uploaded or externally sourced TIFF files. Additionally, implementing input validation measures and sandboxing techniques for TIFF file processing can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Security teams should also consider monitoring for exploitation attempts through network intrusion detection systems and application firewalls that can identify suspicious TIFF file patterns. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated library versions to ensure compatibility with existing applications while maintaining the security posture against this and related memory safety vulnerabilities.