CVE-2017-9177 in AutoTrace
Summary
by MITRE
libautotrace.a in AutoTrace 0.31.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid read and SEGV), related to the ReadImage function in input-bmp.c:390:12.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9177 resides within the AutoTrace 0.31.1 library known as libautotrace.a, specifically manifesting in the ReadImage function located in the input-bmp.c file at line 390. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against systems utilizing this library. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the bitmap image processing functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the software through crafted input files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an invalid memory read operation followed by a segmentation fault, which occurs when the ReadImage function processes malformed bitmap files. This particular flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers invalid input validation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the input processing layer where the library handles various bitmap formats, making it susceptible to exploitation through crafted image files that trigger the problematic code path. When the malicious input reaches the ReadImage function, the software attempts to access memory locations outside the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in the segmentation fault that terminates the application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on AutoTrace for image processing tasks, particularly those exposed to untrusted input sources. The denial of service impact means that legitimate users could be denied access to services that depend on this library, potentially affecting web applications, image processing servers, or any system that incorporates AutoTrace functionality. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt services by sending specially crafted bitmap files to systems running vulnerable software, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The remote exploitability aspect means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where image processing services are exposed to external users.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9177 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the maintainers of AutoTrace have likely released patches containing proper input validation and memory boundary checks. Organizations should implement input sanitization measures that validate bitmap file headers and structure before processing, preventing malformed inputs from reaching the vulnerable code path. Additionally, deploying network segmentation and access controls can limit exposure to this vulnerability by restricting access to image processing services. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious file upload patterns and application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this specific denial of service vulnerability.