CVE-2017-2804 in PHOTO-PAINT X8
Summary
by MITRE
A remote out of bound write vulnerability exists in the TIFF parsing functionality of Core PHOTO-PAINT X8 18.1.0.661. A specially crafted TIFF file can cause a vulnerability resulting in potential memory corruption. An attacker can send the victim a specific TIFF file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2804 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the Core PHOTO-PAINT X8 18.1.0.661 software's TIFF file parsing component. This issue manifests when the application processes specially crafted TIFF files that contain malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions, specifically manifesting as an out-of-bounds write operation that violates the expected memory boundaries during file processing. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that occur when a program writes to memory locations outside the bounds of a buffer, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of TIFF file headers and data structures that the PHOTO-PAINT application parses without adequate bounds checking. When processing maliciously constructed TIFF files, the software fails to validate the size parameters and array indices used during image data interpretation, allowing an attacker to craft input that triggers memory corruption. This type of vulnerability can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, denial of service conditions, or information disclosure depending on the specific memory locations overwritten. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that an attacker can deliver the malicious TIFF file through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2804 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise if the application runs with elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects users who process TIFF images through Core PHOTO-PAINT X8, making it particularly concerning for graphic design professionals, digital artists, and organizations that handle numerous image files. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish command execution capabilities through the corrupted memory state.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates from the vendor to address the underlying parsing logic flaws in the TIFF handling component. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that reject TIFF files from untrusted sources and consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file transfer patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing applications, reinforcing security best practices that align with the OWASP Top Ten security risks. Additionally, users should disable automatic TIFF file processing in applications where possible and maintain current antivirus signatures that can detect known malicious TIFF file patterns. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through threat intelligence feeds and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted image processing software.