CVE-2017-14862 in Exiv2
Summary
by MITRE
An Invalid memory address dereference was discovered in Exiv2::DataValue::read in value.cpp in Exiv2 0.26. The vulnerability causes a segmentation fault and application crash, which leads to denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14862 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Exiv2 image metadata processing library version 0.26. This flaw exists in the Exiv2::DataValue::read function located in the value.cpp source file, where improper handling of memory addresses during metadata parsing operations creates a condition that can be exploited to cause system instability. The vulnerability falls under the category of invalid memory address dereference, a common class of software defects that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Exiv2 library's metadata parsing routines. When processing certain malformed image files or metadata structures, the DataValue::read function attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or validated, resulting in a segmentation fault during execution. This memory access violation occurs because the library fails to properly check buffer boundaries and memory pointers before dereferencing them, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to craft specific input files that trigger the problematic code path.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on Exiv2 for image metadata processing, particularly in server environments, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. The denial of service impact means that applications using this library can be rendered completely unresponsive when processing maliciously crafted image files, potentially affecting multiple users or services simultaneously. The segmentation fault resulting from this vulnerability can cause complete application termination, requiring manual intervention to restore system functionality and potentially leading to extended downtime for affected services.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks through application-level exploitation. Organizations utilizing Exiv2 in their applications should prioritize immediate mitigation through library updates, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through file upload mechanisms or automated processing pipelines. Additionally, implementing input validation and sandboxing mechanisms for image file processing can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent exploitation of this memory safety issue.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Exiv2 version 0.27 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this memory dereference vulnerability. System administrators should also implement proper input sanitization measures, including file type validation and size limitations, to reduce the attack surface for potential exploitation. Network segmentation and access controls can further limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of image processing workflows can help identify additional vulnerabilities in related components that might interact with the Exiv2 library.