CVE-2017-2906 in 3d Creation Suite
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable integer overflow exists in the animation playing functionality of the Blender open-source 3d creation suite version 2.78c. A specially created '.avi' file can cause an integer overflow resulting in a buffer overflow which can allow for code execution under the context of the application. An attacker can convince a user to use the file as an asset in order to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2906 represents a critical security flaw within the Blender 3D creation suite version 2.78c that specifically targets the application's animation handling capabilities. This issue stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing specially crafted .avi video files, creating a dangerous chain of memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability exists in the software's multimedia processing pipeline where it fails to properly validate integer values during the parsing of animation data, particularly when dealing with large or malformed video file structures. The flaw manifests when Blender attempts to allocate memory buffers based on calculated values derived from the video file's metadata, where integer overflow conditions lead to insufficient buffer allocation and subsequent memory corruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-defined pattern that aligns with common software security attack vectors. When a user opens or imports a maliciously crafted .avi file into Blender, the application processes the file's header information and attempts to calculate buffer sizes for animation data storage. The integer overflow occurs during these calculations, where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the integer type, causing the value to wrap around to a much smaller number. This wraparound results in a buffer that is significantly smaller than required for the actual data, leading to a classic buffer overflow condition. The overflow occurs within the application's memory management subsystem, specifically in code segments responsible for handling video frame data processing and animation playback functionality. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow scenarios, making it a particularly dangerous combination of flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2906 extends beyond simple application instability to encompass full code execution capabilities within the context of the Blender process. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Blender, which typically includes the ability to access, modify, or delete files within the application's operational environment. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a user to open the malicious file, making it particularly concerning for environments where users may encounter untrusted media content. The vulnerability affects any system running Blender 2.78c or earlier versions, including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms, as the flaw exists in the cross-platform codebase. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within network environments. The exploitability of this vulnerability is considered moderate to high due to the need for user interaction but the potential for remote code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2906 primarily focus on immediate software updates and operational security measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Blender version 2.79 or later, where the integer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies, particularly for media assets imported into 3D creation environments, and consider deploying sandboxing solutions that limit the potential impact of malicious files. Network security controls such as email filtering and web content filtering should be enhanced to prevent users from inadvertently downloading or opening suspicious video files. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive logging of file operations within 3D creation applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer handling in multimedia processing applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough input validation in software that processes user-supplied media files. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege configurations where Blender applications run with minimal required permissions to reduce potential impact from successful exploitation attempts.