CVE-2017-6889 in LibRaw-demosaic-pack-GPL2
Summary
by MITRE
An integer overflow error within the "foveon_load_camf()" function (dcraw_foveon.c) in LibRaw-demosaic-pack-GPL2 before 0.18.2 can be exploited to cause a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6889 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the LibRaw-demosaic-pack-GPL2 library version 0.18.1 and earlier. This issue manifests specifically within the foveon_load_camf() function located in the dcraw_foveon.c source file, where improper handling of integer values creates a pathway for heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability arises from the library's inability to properly validate input parameters when processing camera raw image data, particularly in the context of Foveon sensor image demosaicing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious camera raw image files that trigger the integer overflow during the processing of camera metadata. When the integer value exceeds the maximum limit for the data type being used, it wraps around to a much smaller value, resulting in a calculation that appears valid to the program but actually leads to insufficient memory allocation. This miscalculation causes subsequent memory operations to write beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries, creating a condition where arbitrary data can be written to memory locations that should remain protected.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process camera raw image files, particularly those using LibRaw for image processing workflows. The heap-based buffer overflow can lead to application crashes, memory corruption, and potentially arbitrary code execution if the attacker can control the data being written to the overflowed buffer. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where automated image processing systems handle untrusted input from multiple sources, such as digital asset management systems, photo editing applications, or forensic image analysis tools.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where integer arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the data type. This weakness is particularly prevalent in systems handling multimedia processing where large data structures and complex calculations are common. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a classic buffer overflow exploit that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The impact is further amplified by the widespread use of LibRaw in various image processing applications, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable across numerous software platforms that depend on this library for camera raw image support.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate library version updates to 0.18.2 or later, where the integer overflow has been properly addressed through enhanced input validation and proper bounds checking. Organizations should also implement input sanitization measures that validate image file headers and metadata before processing, along with memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of systems that process camera raw files to untrusted inputs, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other multimedia processing libraries that may be in use within the organization's infrastructure.