CVE-2016-5684 in Hospitality Cruise Shipboard Property Management System
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the XMP image handling functionality of the FreeImage library. A specially crafted XMP file can cause an arbitrary memory overwrite resulting in code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious image to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5684 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the FreeImage library's XMP image handling component. This issue resides in the library's processing of Extensible Metadata Platform metadata, which is commonly embedded within various image formats including jpeg and tiff files. The flaw manifests when the library attempts to parse malformed XMP data structures, creating a scenario where memory operations exceed allocated boundaries. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the parsing routines that handle metadata extraction and processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management during XMP metadata parsing operations. When FreeImage encounters specially crafted XMP data within an image file, the parsing function fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before performing memory writes. This allows an attacker to manipulate the metadata structure in such a way that subsequent memory operations overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability specifically targets the library's handling of XMP arrays and nested structures, where the lack of proper bounds checking enables an attacker to control memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5684 extends far beyond simple image processing applications, as FreeImage is widely integrated into numerous software systems including content management platforms, digital asset management tools, and multimedia applications. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by preparing a malicious image file containing crafted XMP metadata that triggers the out-of-bounds write condition. The successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability particularly affects applications that automatically process or display images without proper input sanitization, creating a vector for remote code execution through image uploads or viewing operations. The attack surface is significantly broadened due to FreeImage's extensive use across various platforms and applications that handle image metadata processing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves updating to FreeImage versions that contain patches for the specific out-of-bounds write condition in XMP handling functionality. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures when processing image metadata, particularly XMP data, to prevent malformed structures from reaching vulnerable parsing routines. Additionally, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention can significantly reduce exploitability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" when considering the typical attack vectors involving image processing applications. Security teams should also deploy network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement least privilege principles for applications that process image files to limit potential damage from successful attacks.