CVE-2017-9203 in ImageWorsener
Summary
by MITRE
imagew-main.c:960:12 in libimageworsener.a in ImageWorsener 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer underflow) via a crafted image, related to imagew-bmp.c.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9203 represents a critical buffer underflow condition within the ImageWorsener image processing library version 1.3.1. This flaw exists in the imagew-main.c file at line 960, where a malformed image file can trigger unexpected memory access patterns that lead to system instability. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the imagew-bmp.c component, which handles bitmap image format processing, making it particularly dangerous for applications that process untrusted image data from external sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during image parsing operations. When the library encounters a crafted bitmap image with malformed header data or incorrect dimension specifications, the processing routine fails to validate memory allocation boundaries properly. This allows attackers to manipulate the image data in such a way that memory operations occur at invalid memory addresses, potentially causing the application to crash or behave unpredictably. The buffer underflow condition creates a scenario where adjacent memory locations are accessed, leading to potential information disclosure or arbitrary code execution depending on the system configuration and memory layout.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications, content management systems, and any software that relies on ImageWorsener for image processing tasks. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by uploading or submitting specially crafted bitmap images to systems that utilize the vulnerable library, resulting in denial of service conditions that can disrupt legitimate user access and system availability. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the underflow may allow for more sophisticated attacks if the system lacks proper memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-121 category for buffer overflow conditions and potentially CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read operations that could be related to the underflow behavior. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code or cause service disruption. Organizations using ImageWorsener should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and image validation processes before processing user-uploaded content can serve as effective mitigations while awaiting official updates. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls should also be configured to detect and block suspicious image file patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.