CVE-2018-10972 in FLIF
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Free Lossless Image Format (FLIF) 0.3. The TransformPaletteC::process function in transform/palette_C.hpp allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10972 affects the Free Lossless Image Format (FLIF) 0.3 implementation and represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition within the TransformPaletteC::process function located in transform/palette_C.hpp. This flaw exists in the handling of palette-based image transformations and demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited through malformed input files. The vulnerability specifically impacts the heap memory management during palette processing operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted FLIF file is processed by software implementing the affected library. The TransformPaletteC::process function fails to validate input parameters properly, particularly regarding the size and structure of palette data within the image file. When the parser encounters malformed palette information, it attempts to allocate memory or write data to heap locations that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. This condition can result in memory corruption that manifests as denial of service through application crashes or more severe impacts including potential code execution depending on memory layout and compiler protections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems processing untrusted image files, particularly in web applications, content management systems, or any environment where users can upload or download image files. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments or public-facing services. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest potential for more serious consequences beyond simple denial of service, including information disclosure or privilege escalation depending on the execution environment and memory protections in place.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a common class of memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in the cybersecurity community. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, when it leads to remote code execution, or T1499, Endpoint Denial of Service, when it results in system unavailability. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, input validation of image files through sandboxed processing environments, and implementation of memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap integrity checks. Organizations should also implement automated scanning for vulnerable file formats in user-uploaded content and consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.