CVE-2017-7452 in ImageWorsener
Summary
by MITRE
The iwbmp_read_info_header function in imagew-bmp.c in libimageworsener.a in ImageWorsener 1.3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7452 resides within the ImageWorsener library version 1.3.0, specifically in the iwbmp_read_info_header function located in imagew-bmp.c. This flaw represents a classic null pointer dereference issue that can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes a specially crafted bmp file that contains malformed header information, causing the application to attempt to dereference a null pointer during the image parsing operation. Such a scenario typically occurs when the library fails to properly validate input data before attempting to access memory locations that have not been initialized or properly allocated. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged to crash applications that utilize the ImageWorsener library for image processing tasks, potentially leading to system instability or complete application failure. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications or services that accept user-uploaded images, as attackers can craft malicious files to exploit the flaw and cause unintended service interruptions. The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference conditions, where a pointer that is expected to point to valid memory is either null or points to invalid memory locations. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks through application layer attacks, specifically targeting weaknesses in image processing libraries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ImageWorsener is used as a dependency for content management systems, web applications, or image processing pipelines, as a single malicious image file can cause cascading failures across multiple services. Attackers can exploit this by uploading or delivering a crafted bmp file that contains malformed header structures, causing the iwbmp_read_info_header function to fail during parsing and subsequently crash the application. The absence of proper input validation in the image header parsing routine creates an exploitable path where malformed data can bypass normal execution flows and lead to program termination. Organizations utilizing ImageWorsener in their applications should consider this vulnerability as a critical security concern, particularly in environments where image processing is a core functionality. The exploitation of this vulnerability can be automated and does not require sophisticated attack techniques, making it a preferred target for attackers seeking to disrupt services. Mitigation strategies should focus on upgrading to patched versions of ImageWorsener, implementing proper input validation, and deploying defensive measures such as sandboxing image processing operations to prevent cascading failures. Additionally, network-level protections and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for patterns associated with this specific vulnerability to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries, where malformed data can lead to serious operational impacts. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability across all systems that depend on ImageWorsener, as the denial of service impact can significantly affect availability and user experience. Regular security assessments should include evaluation of image processing libraries to identify similar null pointer dereference conditions that could lead to similar service disruption scenarios.