CVE-2017-13735 in LibRaw
Summary
by MITRE
There is a floating point exception in the kodak_radc_load_raw function in dcraw_common.cpp in LibRaw 0.18.2. It will lead to a remote denial of service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13735 represents a critical floating point exception within the LibRaw library version 0.18.2, specifically within the kodak_radc_load_raw function located in dcraw_common.cpp. This flaw occurs during the processing of raw image files from Kodak cameras, where the library fails to properly handle certain mathematical operations that result in floating point exceptions. The issue manifests when the library attempts to parse malformed or specially crafted raw image data, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly due to unhandled floating point arithmetic errors. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in image processing applications where user-supplied files are processed without adequate input validation, creating a potential vector for remote denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling in the mathematical computations performed by the kodak_radc_load_raw function. When processing specific raw image formats, particularly those from Kodak cameras, the function encounters floating point operations that result in invalid mathematical states such as division by zero or overflow conditions. This function operates within the broader LibRaw library ecosystem, which serves as a crucial component for raw image file processing in numerous applications including photo editing software, digital asset management systems, and camera firmware. The floating point exception occurs during the parsing phase where the library attempts to convert raw sensor data into usable image information, making it a fundamental flaw in the core processing pipeline.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition by simply providing a maliciously crafted raw image file to any application utilizing the vulnerable LibRaw library. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where applications process user-uploaded content or fetch images from untrusted sources. The service disruption occurs at the application level, where the process terminates abruptly due to the unhandled floating point exception, potentially affecting web applications, desktop software, or embedded systems that rely on LibRaw for image processing functionality. This vulnerability affects a broad range of software including popular photo editors, camera firmware, and digital asset management platforms, creating widespread potential for service disruption across multiple application domains.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which describes integer underflow conditions, and more specifically relates to CWE-369, which covers division by zero errors in floating point operations. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion or application crashes. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be executed remotely without requiring user interaction, making it suitable for automated exploitation across web applications that process raw image files. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to LibRaw version 0.19.0 or later, where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper floating point exception handling and input validation. Additionally, applications should implement robust error handling mechanisms to prevent unhandled exceptions from causing service termination, and consider implementing sandboxing or file validation techniques to prevent malicious raw image files from reaching the vulnerable parsing functions.