CVE-2017-12804 in ImageWorsener
Summary
by MITRE
The iwgif_init_screen function in imagew-gif.c:510 in ImageWorsener 1.3.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (hmemory exhaustion) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12804 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the ImageWorsener library version 1.3.2, specifically within the iwgif_init_screen function located in the imagew-gif.c source file at line 510. This vulnerability exposes systems to remote exploitation where malicious actors can craft specially formatted gif files that trigger memory exhaustion conditions, effectively consuming available system resources and rendering the affected service unavailable to legitimate users. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern where improper input validation leads to uncontrolled memory allocation, making it particularly dangerous in web applications and file processing services that handle user-uploaded content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the gif parsing routine of ImageWorsener. When the iwgif_init_screen function processes a malformed gif file, it fails to properly validate the file structure and memory requirements, leading to excessive heap allocation that can quickly deplete available system memory. This memory exhaustion occurs without proper bounds checking or resource limiting mechanisms, allowing attackers to craft files that appear legitimate but contain maliciously constructed data structures designed to trigger the vulnerability. The issue falls under the CWE-122 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, making it a direct descendant of memory safety flaws that have plagued software development for decades.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for any system relying on ImageWorsener for image processing, particularly web applications, content management systems, and file upload services. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely without authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt services or perform resource exhaustion attacks. Systems utilizing this library may experience complete service unavailability, application crashes, or system instability when processing malicious gif files, potentially affecting multiple users simultaneously. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage it through standard network protocols without requiring physical access or prior system compromise, amplifying its potential impact across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12804 should prioritize immediate patching of the ImageWorsener library to version 1.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory management issues. Organizations should implement input validation measures that sanitize all gif file uploads before processing, including size limitations and format verification. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and content filtering can help reduce the impact of exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper resource monitoring and alerting systems allows administrators to detect unusual memory consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a common attack vector in the exploitation of memory safety vulnerabilities within multimedia processing libraries. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations to contain potential impacts and prevent cascading failures throughout the application stack.