CVE-2017-11592 in Exiv2
Summary
by MITRE
There is a Mismatched Memory Management Routines vulnerability in the Exiv2::FileIo::seek function of Exiv2 0.26 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack (heap memory corruption) via crafted input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2019
The CVE-2017-11592 vulnerability represents a critical memory management flaw within the Exiv2 image metadata processing library version 0.26. This vulnerability specifically affects the Exiv2::FileIo::seek function, which handles file input/output operations for image metadata manipulation. The issue stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation routines during file seek operations, creating a mismatched memory management scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Exiv2 is widely used across various applications and systems for processing image metadata, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments where image files are processed without proper validation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper interaction between memory allocation and deallocation functions within the Exiv2::FileIo::seek implementation. When processing crafted image files, the function executes a sequence of memory management operations that do not maintain proper consistency between allocated memory blocks and their subsequent deallocation. This mismatch creates heap memory corruption conditions that can be triggered remotely through specially crafted input data. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management errors and buffer handling, where the library fails to properly track memory regions during seek operations, leading to potential heap corruption that can cause application crashes or unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11592 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause heap memory corruption in applications that utilize Exiv2 for image processing, resulting in application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or any environment where user-provided image files are processed without adequate sanitization. Systems using Exiv2 for automatic image metadata extraction, such as photo galleries, social media platforms, or digital asset management systems, become vulnerable to remote exploitation. The heap corruption can manifest as application crashes, memory leaks, or in severe cases, potential code execution depending on the specific environment and memory layout.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Exiv2 version 0.27 or later, which contains the necessary patches for this memory management issue. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened by implementing strict file format checking and limiting the size of processed image files. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malformed image files that may trigger this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations and regularly audit their systems for vulnerable Exiv2 versions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which addresses improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and represents a classic example of heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited through remote input manipulation. This issue demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in library code and the potential for seemingly minor memory handling errors to create significant security risks in widely deployed software components.