CVE-2017-2888 in SDL
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable integer overflow vulnerability exists when creating a new RGB Surface in SDL 2.0.5. A specially crafted file can cause an integer overflow resulting in too little memory being allocated which can lead to a buffer overflow and potential code execution. An attacker can provide a specially crafted image file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2888 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) library version 2.0.5, specifically affecting the RGB surface creation process. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which occurs when an integer value exceeds its maximum representable limit and wraps around to a much smaller value. The flaw manifests during the allocation of memory for RGB surfaces, where the software fails to properly validate integer inputs that determine memory allocation sizes. When processing specially crafted image files, the application calculates surface dimensions using potentially malicious integer values that, when subjected to arithmetic operations, produce overflow conditions resulting in insufficient memory allocation for the intended buffer size.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious image file containing malformed dimension parameters that, when processed by SDL 2.0.5, trigger the integer overflow condition. During the surface creation process, the library performs calculations to determine the required memory allocation based on image width and height values. When these values are carefully manipulated to cause integer overflow, the resulting allocation size becomes significantly smaller than the actual memory required to store the image data. This insufficient memory allocation creates a buffer overflow condition where subsequent memory writes attempt to store data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected application. The buffer overflow condition can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical program execution flow control elements, enabling the execution of malicious code with the privileges of the compromised application. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through legitimate image file processing operations, making it accessible to attackers who can entice victims to open malicious files or visit compromised websites that serve such content. The attack surface includes any application that utilizes SDL 2.0.5 for image processing, including games, multimedia applications, and other software that handles image files through the SDL library. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables an attacker to execute code within the application's memory space.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2888 focus primarily on updating to patched versions of SDL 2.0.5 or later, where the integer overflow conditions have been properly addressed through input validation and overflow checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected applications are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation for image file processing, employing memory safety features such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization, and deploying application sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow checking in memory allocation routines and highlights the need for robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted user data. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous memory allocation patterns and unusual image file processing behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts.