CVE-2017-9147 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
LibTIFF 4.0.7 has an invalid read in the _TIFFVGetField function in tif_dir.c, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted TIFF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9147 affects LibTIFF version 4.0.7 and represents a critical invalid read condition within the _TIFFVGetField function located in the tif_dir.c source file. This flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted TIFF image files, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the vulnerability to trigger a denial of service condition resulting in application crashes. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory access handling within the TIFF file parsing library, specifically during the field retrieval operations that occur when examining directory structures within TIFF format files.
The underlying technical flaw constitutes a classic buffer over-read vulnerability that falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, representing an out-of-bounds read condition where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This particular implementation error occurs during the TIFF directory field processing phase, where the _TIFFVGetField function fails to properly validate the bounds of directory entries before attempting to read from them. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers who can deliver malicious TIFF files through various attack vectors including web applications, email attachments, or file sharing platforms.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9147 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as it can be leveraged to disrupt critical services that rely on TIFF file processing capabilities. Systems utilizing LibTIFF for image handling, document management, or digital asset processing are at risk of experiencing service interruptions when encountering maliciously crafted files. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including web servers processing image uploads, content management systems, digital photography applications, and any software that incorporates LibTIFF for TIFF file handling. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and can be classified under T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) within the attack framework, as it enables remote code execution through application crashes and system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9147 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the LibTIFF maintainers, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases of the library. Organizations should prioritize updating their LibTIFF installations to versions that contain the fix for this invalid read condition, which typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the _TIFFVGetField function. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper file validation procedures, deploying sandboxed environments for TIFF file processing, and establishing content filtering mechanisms that can identify and reject suspicious file formats before they reach the processing layer. Network-based solutions can also be implemented to monitor for potential exploitation attempts through anomaly detection systems that identify unusual file processing patterns or malformed TIFF content that may indicate an attempted attack against this vulnerability.