CVE-2018-15813 in Image Viewer
Summary
by MITRE
FastStone Image Viewer 6.5 has a User Mode Write AV starting at image00400000+0x00000000000e1237 via a crafted image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15813 affects FastStone Image Viewer version 6.5 and represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs during image file processing. This issue manifests as a user mode write access violation at the memory address image00400000+0x00000000000e1237, indicating that maliciously crafted image files can trigger memory corruption within the application's processing pipeline. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking mechanisms when handling specially constructed image data, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the running application.
The technical flaw in FastStone Image Viewer stems from insufficient validation of image file headers and metadata structures, particularly affecting the software's ability to properly parse and process image dimensions, color depths, and compression parameters. When the application encounters malformed image data, it fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during memory allocation and data copying operations, leading to a write operation that exceeds allocated memory space. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of unsafe memory manipulation where the application writes beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. The specific memory address pattern suggests the vulnerability occurs during the processing of image data structures that are typically handled by image decoding libraries, where improper bounds checking allows for memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates potential entry points for privilege escalation and remote code execution attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain control over the victim's system, particularly when the vulnerable application is configured to automatically process images from untrusted sources or when users are tricked into opening maliciously crafted files. The attack surface is significant given that image viewers are commonly used applications that process media files from various sources including email attachments, web downloads, and file sharing platforms. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open compromised image files, creating opportunities for lateral movement and persistent access within network infrastructures. The exploitability factor is enhanced by the fact that image files are frequently encountered in normal user workflows, making social engineering attacks more effective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15813 should focus on immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, with organizations implementing strict image file validation policies and user education programs to reduce exposure risk. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting controls that restrict execution of vulnerable applications or enforce strict file type validation before processing. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input sanitization and proper memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution and T1203 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious file transfer patterns and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate image processing operations. Additionally, regular security assessments of commonly used third-party applications should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in image processing libraries and other media handling software that may present similar attack vectors.