CVE-2017-8326 in ImageWorsener
Summary
by MITRE
libimageworsener.a in ImageWorsener before 1.3.1 has "left shift cannot be represented in type int" undefined behavior issues, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted image, related to imagew-bmp.c and imagew-util.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8326 affects the ImageWorsener library version 1.3.1 and earlier, specifically within the libimageworsener.a component. This issue stems from undefined behavior in the form of left shift operations that cannot be represented within the int type, creating potential security risks for applications that rely on this image processing library. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of bit shift operations in the imagew-bmp.c and imagew-util.c source files, which are core components of the library's image processing functionality.
The technical flaw arises from the C programming language's undefined behavior when performing left shift operations on integer values that exceed the representable range of the target data type. When attackers submit maliciously crafted images to applications using ImageWorsener, the library processes these inputs through the vulnerable code paths in the bmp and utility modules. The left shift operations in these files can cause integer overflow conditions that lead to unpredictable program behavior, including memory corruption and application crashes. This undefined behavior creates opportunities for attackers to exploit the library's handling of malformed image data to trigger denial of service conditions or potentially achieve more severe impacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it represents a broader class of memory safety issues that can be exploited in various attack scenarios. Applications using ImageWorsener for image processing tasks become susceptible to remote code execution or denial of service attacks when processing untrusted image inputs. The vulnerability affects systems where the library is integrated into web applications, content management systems, or any platform that accepts user-uploaded images. Attackers can leverage this issue to cause service disruption or potentially escalate privileges if the vulnerable application has elevated permissions. The undefined behavior nature of the flaw means that impacts may vary depending on compiler optimizations and system configurations, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8326 should prioritize immediate patching of the ImageWorsener library to version 1.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the left shift operations. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to filter potentially malicious image files before processing them through any image handling libraries. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-758, which addresses undefined behavior in software, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for denial of service. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing, using memory protection techniques, and monitoring for abnormal application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.