CVE-2017-2575 in libbpg
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found while fuzzing libbpg 0.9.7. It is a NULL pointer dereference issue due to missing check of the return value of function malloc in the BPG encoder. This vulnerability appeared while converting a malicious JPEG file to BPG.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2575 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the libbpg 0.9.7 library, specifically affecting the BPG encoder component. This issue was discovered through systematic fuzzing activities targeting the library's file conversion capabilities, particularly when processing malicious JPEG input files. The root cause stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the memory allocation process, creating a pathway for potential system instability and denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the BPG encoder attempts to allocate memory using the malloc function without properly verifying whether the allocation succeeded. When malloc fails to allocate the requested memory block, it returns a NULL pointer which is then subsequently dereferenced without proper null checking. This specific flaw maps directly to CWE-476 which defines NULL Pointer Dereference as a condition where a null pointer is dereferenced, leading to program termination or unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability manifests during the conversion process from JPEG to BPG format, where malicious input triggers the allocation failure scenario that the code does not anticipate or handle gracefully.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2575 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the affected application to crash or terminate unexpectedly, effectively denying service to legitimate users. In environments where libbpg is integrated into larger systems or used as a processing component for user-uploaded content, this flaw could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services or potentially escalate to more severe consequences depending on the broader system architecture. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, particularly when the flaw is triggered through file processing operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the libbpg library to version 0.9.8 or later, which incorporates proper null pointer validation after memory allocation calls. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation for all file processing components that utilize libbpg, particularly those handling user-supplied content. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed JPEG files that may trigger this vulnerability can provide early warning capabilities. The fix should include robust error handling that checks malloc return values and implements appropriate fallback mechanisms or error reporting when memory allocation fails, preventing the propagation of null pointers through the application stack.