CVE-2017-6010 in icoutils
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in icoutils 0.31.1. A buffer overflow was observed in the "extract_icons" function in the "extract.c" source file. This issue can be triggered by processing a corrupted ico file and will result in an icotool crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6010 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the icoutils software package version 0.31.1, specifically within the extract_icons function located in the extract.c source file. This flaw demonstrates a classic programming error where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability manifests when the icotool utility processes malformed or corrupted ico format files, which are commonly used for storing application icons and cursors in windows-based systems. The buffer overflow occurs during the extraction process of icon resources, making this an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit applications that rely on icoutils for icon handling operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1059.1001 for execution through command-line interface. The flaw occurs because the extract_icons function fails to properly validate the size parameters of icon data structures within the ico file format, allowing malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations. When processing a corrupted ico file, the software attempts to read icon metadata without adequate bounds checking, causing the program to write beyond its intended memory allocation. This condition creates a potential execution path where an attacker could manipulate the overflow to redirect program execution or corrupt critical system memory segments.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6010 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks in environments where icoutils is used for processing untrusted icon files. Systems that automatically process icon files from external sources, such as web browsers, file managers, or application installers, could be vulnerable to remote code execution if attackers can craft malicious ico files that trigger this buffer overflow. The vulnerability affects any system running icoutils 0.31.1 or earlier versions, including various linux distributions and unix-like systems that utilize this utility for icon extraction operations. Network-based attacks could leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious icon files through web applications, email attachments, or file sharing systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated processing of user-submitted content occurs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected icoutils installations to version 0.32.0 or later, which contains the necessary memory bounds checking fixes. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all icon file processing operations, including the use of sandboxed environments when handling untrusted icon content. Network administrators should consider implementing file type restrictions and content scanning for icon files, particularly in environments where automatic icon extraction occurs. Additionally, system hardening measures such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections can provide additional defense-in-depth layers against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security audits of third-party utilities and the need for proper memory management practices in software development, particularly when handling binary file formats that require complex parsing operations.