CVE-2017-7624 in ImageWorsener
Summary
by MITRE
The iw_read_bmp_file function in imagew-bmp.c in libimageworsener.a in ImageWorsener 1.3.0 allows remote attackers to consume an amount of available memory via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7624 represents a critical memory consumption issue within the ImageWorsener library version 1.3.0, specifically affecting the iw_read_bmp_file function in the imagew-bmp.c module. This flaw exists in the libimageworsener.a library and demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and memory allocation handling when processing bitmap image files. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit memory exhaustion conditions through the careful crafting of malicious bitmap files that cause the application to allocate excessive memory resources beyond normal operational parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of bitmap file headers and metadata during the parsing process. When the iw_read_bmp_file function processes a crafted bitmap file, it fails to adequately validate the dimensions and memory requirements specified in the file's header structures. This lack of validation enables attackers to specify arbitrarily large image dimensions or memory requirements that the library then attempts to allocate, leading to memory exhaustion conditions that can cause denial of service or system instability. The flaw operates at the intersection of buffer overflows and memory allocation vulnerabilities, specifically manifesting as a form of resource exhaustion attack where computational resources are consumed beyond acceptable limits.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for systems that rely on ImageWorsener for image processing tasks, particularly those exposed to untrusted image data from external sources. Applications using this library may experience complete service disruption when processing maliciously crafted bitmap files, as the memory allocation attempts can exhaust available system resources and potentially cause application crashes or system hangs. The remote exploitation aspect means that attackers can trigger this vulnerability without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications, content management systems, or any service that accepts user-uploaded images. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for "Network Denial of Service" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" when considering the potential for exploitation through automated attack vectors.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7624 should focus on immediate library updates and implementation of input validation controls. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to ImageWorsener versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability, as the maintainers have likely implemented proper bounds checking and memory allocation limits within the bitmap processing functions. Additionally, implementing strict file format validation, size limitations, and resource monitoring mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection. System administrators should consider implementing rate limiting and file type restrictions for image uploads, while security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and intrusion detection systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management in image processing libraries and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party components used in production environments.