CVE-2018-14375 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in LibTIFF 4.0.9. A buffer overflow vulnerability can occur via an invalid or empty tif argument to TIFFRGBAImageOK in tif_getimage.c, and it can be exploited (at a minimum) via the following high-level library API functions: TIFFReadRGBAImage, TIFFRGBAImageOK, and TIFFRGBAImageBegin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14375 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the LibTIFF library version 4.0.9, specifically affecting the TIFFRGBAImageOK function located in the tif_getimage.c source file. This issue arises when the library processes an invalid or empty TIFF file handle, creating a scenario where memory boundaries are exceeded during image processing operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of TIFF file inputs that contain malformed or corrupted data structures, particularly when the tif argument passed to TIFFRGBAImageOK function is either null or improperly initialized. When high-level library API functions such as TIFFReadRGBAImage, TIFFRGBAImageOK, and TIFFRGBAImageBegin are invoked with maliciously crafted TIFF files, the buffer overflow condition manifests as unauthorized memory access patterns that can lead to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of input validation and memory management, where insufficient parameter checking fails to prevent invalid file handle processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14375 extends beyond simple application instability, presenting significant security risks to systems that process TIFF image files through the affected library. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code remotely by uploading specially crafted TIFF files to systems that utilize LibTIFF for image processing, potentially compromising servers, desktop applications, or mobile platforms that depend on this library. The vulnerability affects a wide range of software applications including graphic design tools, document management systems, and web applications that handle TIFF image formats, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple applications may be vulnerable to the same flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected LibTIFF versions to 4.0.10 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to properly validate input parameters before memory allocation occurs. Security practitioners should implement defensive programming practices including input sanitization, bounds checking, and proper error handling within applications that utilize LibTIFF libraries. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious TIFF file uploads and implement application whitelisting controls to restrict the execution of untrusted image processing operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and represents a critical target for vulnerability management programs due to its potential for remote code execution.