CVE-2017-2907 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-2017-2907 represents a critical security flaw within the Blender 3d creation suite version 2.78c, specifically affecting its animation playback capabilities. This integer overflow vulnerability resides in the handling of .avi file formats during the animation processing phase, creating a pathway for malicious code execution that operates under the privileges of the affected application. The flaw demonstrates how multimedia processing components within creative software can become attack vectors when proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms are absent. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Blender's asset management system, where the software's animation player fails to adequately validate the dimensions and memory requirements of video files before attempting to process them. This oversight creates a scenario where an attacker can craft a malicious .avi file that, when loaded as an asset, triggers the overflow condition and subsequently leads to memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper integer arithmetic handling within the video frame processing pipeline. When Blender attempts to calculate buffer sizes for video frame data, the software fails to properly validate that the calculated values remain within acceptable integer limits. This allows an attacker to manipulate the file structure in such a way that the integer overflow produces a buffer that is significantly smaller than the actual data being written, creating a classic buffer overflow condition. The vulnerability manifests when the software's internal memory allocation logic encounters a scenario where the multiplication or addition of frame dimensions results in an integer value that exceeds the maximum representable value for the data type being used. This overflow causes subsequent memory operations to write data beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The flaw aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how such issues can be exploited in multimedia processing applications where file format parsing is involved.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the application's integrity and the user's system. When a victim opens a maliciously crafted .avi file within Blender, the application's memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running Blender process. This creates a significant risk for users who frequently work with external assets or collaborate with others who might provide compromised files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where users might unknowingly open files shared by others, as the attack requires no special privileges beyond the ability to convince a user to open a specific file. Attackers can exploit this flaw to install backdoors, steal sensitive project data, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within a network. The exploitability factor is enhanced by the fact that the vulnerability occurs during normal file opening procedures, making it difficult for users to identify when they are being targeted. The attack vector specifically targets the application's asset loading functionality, which is a fundamental component of Blender's workflow and is therefore frequently accessed during normal operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2907 require immediate patching of the affected Blender version to address the integer overflow in the video processing code. Users should upgrade to Blender version 2.79 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures before allowing external assets to be imported into Blender projects, including scanning files for known malicious patterns and ensuring that only trusted sources provide media assets. Network security controls should be configured to monitor for unusual file access patterns and potentially malicious file transfers. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted files, particularly those with multimedia extensions like .avi, .mp4, or .mov that could trigger similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities, underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper access controls. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for multimedia processing applications to limit the potential impact of successful exploits, as well as establishing incident response procedures that account for the specific threat landscape of creative software applications. Regular vulnerability assessments of third-party libraries and components used in multimedia processing should be conducted to identify similar integer overflow conditions that might exist in other software components.