CVE-2018-16554 in jhead
Summary
by MITRE
The ProcessGpsInfo function of the gpsinfo.c file of jhead 3.00 may allow a remote attacker to cause a denial-of-service attack or unspecified other impact via a malicious JPEG file, because of inconsistency between float and double in a sprintf format string during TAG_GPS_ALT handling.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16554 resides within the jhead 3.00 image processing library, specifically in the ProcessGpsInfo function located in the gpsinfo.c file. This flaw represents a classic buffer manipulation issue that can be exploited remotely through crafted JPEG files, potentially leading to denial-of-service conditions or other unspecified security impacts. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of floating-point data types during GPS altitude information processing, creating a scenario where inconsistent type usage in formatting operations can result in system instability or unexpected behavior. The issue manifests when the software processes GPS altitude tags within JPEG metadata, specifically during the sprintf function call where format string inconsistencies occur between float and double precision data types.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which describes integer underflow conditions, and CWE-190, which covers integer overflow conditions. The flaw occurs due to improper type handling in the sprintf format string where the software expects a double precision floating-point value but receives or processes a float value, creating a mismatch that can lead to memory corruption or unexpected program termination. This type inconsistency during GPS altitude processing creates an exploitable condition that can be triggered by feeding malicious JPEG files containing specially crafted GPS altitude data. The vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework category of T1203, which encompasses exploitation of vulnerabilities for denial-of-service attacks, and potentially T1059 for command execution through malformed data processing. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, as the malicious JPEG file can be delivered through any means that allows file execution or processing within the vulnerable application context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the system architecture and how the jhead library is integrated into larger applications. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause applications using jhead for JPEG metadata processing to crash or behave unpredictably, disrupting services that depend on proper image metadata handling. Systems that process large volumes of JPEG files, such as web applications, image processing pipelines, or content management systems, could experience significant service degradation or complete outages. The vulnerability affects any software that relies on jhead 3.00 for GPS information extraction from JPEG files, including but not limited to photo management applications, image processing servers, and digital asset management systems. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated image processing occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in input validation and type safety within the GPS metadata processing code, highlighting the importance of proper data type handling in cryptographic and image processing libraries where precision and reliability are paramount for system security.