CVE-2017-11683 in Exiv2
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
There is a reachable assertion in the Internal::TiffReader::visitDirectory function in tiffvisitor.cpp of Exiv2 0.26 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack via crafted input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11683 resides within the Exiv2 library version 0.26, specifically within the Internal::TiffReader::visitDirectory function located in tiffvisitor.cpp. This flaw represents a critical security issue that manifests as a reachable assertion failure, creating an avenue for remote denial of service attacks. The vulnerability occurs when the library processes crafted TIFF image files that contain malformed directory structures, leading to an assertion that terminates the application process.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which addresses reachable assertions in software systems. When an attacker crafts a malicious TIFF file with specific directory structures, the visitDirectory function in the TIFF reader encounters an unexpected condition that triggers a hardcoded assertion check. This assertion failure causes the application to abruptly terminate, effectively denying service to legitimate users who attempt to process or view the image files. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling and input validation within the TIFF parsing mechanism, as the system fails to gracefully handle malformed data rather than implementing proper exception handling or recovery procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited remotely through web applications or services that utilize Exiv2 for image metadata processing. Systems that automatically process uploaded images, such as content management systems, photo sharing platforms, or digital asset management tools, become vulnerable to this attack vector. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web-facing applications where users can upload arbitrary files. The denial of service effect can be persistent and resource-intensive, as each malicious file processed by the vulnerable application will cause a service interruption, potentially leading to cascading failures in larger systems that depend on image processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11683 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Exiv2 installations to version 0.27 or later, where the assertion failure has been addressed through improved input validation and error handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement defensive programming practices such as input sanitization and bounded buffer operations to prevent similar issues in other components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for defensive measures, particularly in the area of privilege escalation and execution through file processing. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and establishing robust application sandboxing to contain potential impacts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on assertion handling and input validation should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other software components.