CVE-2017-2586 in netpbm
Summary
by MITRE
A null pointer dereference vulnerability was found in netpbm before 10.61. A maliciously crafted SVG file could cause the application to crash.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2586 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the netpbm image processing library version 10.61 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted svg files, leading to a complete application crash. The netpbm suite serves as a collection of utilities for converting between various image formats and manipulating bitmap images, making it a widely used component in image processing workflows across numerous systems and applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle malformed svg file structures, particularly those containing null pointer references in their internal data parsing routines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of svg file headers and structure to force the netpbm application into dereferencing a null pointer during the parsing process. When the application encounters an unexpected null reference in the svg file's metadata or content structure, it attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in an immediate application termination. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of null pointer dereference, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling and input sanitization within the svg parsing subsystem, where the application does not adequately validate the integrity of incoming data before attempting to process it.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2586 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services and potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. In environments where netpbm is integrated into automated image processing pipelines or web applications, this vulnerability could be exploited to create denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate image processing operations from completing successfully. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web-facing applications that accept user-uploaded svg files, as it provides a straightforward method for remote attackers to crash the application without requiring any special privileges or complex exploitation techniques. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, as it directly enables the disruption of image processing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2586 focus primarily on upgrading to netpbm version 10.61 or later, where the null pointer dereference has been addressed through improved input validation and error handling mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input sanitization for svg files, implementing strict file format validation before processing, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file upload patterns. The fix typically involves adding proper null checks and defensive programming practices within the svg parsing code to ensure that all pointers are validated before dereferencing, thereby preventing the application from crashing when encountering malformed input. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of image processing operations can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide valuable forensic data for incident response activities.