CVE-2018-19568 in dcraw
Summary
by MITRE
A floating point exception in kodak_radc_load_raw in dcraw through 9.28 could be used by attackers able to supply malicious files to crash an application that bundles the dcraw code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19568 represents a critical floating point exception within the kodak_radc_load_raw function of dcraw version 9.28 and earlier. This flaw exists in the raw image processing capabilities of the dcraw library, which is widely distributed as part of numerous image processing applications and software packages. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to process malformed or maliciously crafted image files that contain invalid floating point data within the Kodak RADC format. Such files can trigger an unhandled floating point exception during the parsing process, leading to immediate application termination and potential denial of service conditions. The issue specifically affects applications that bundle dcraw as a dependency, making it prevalent across various digital imaging tools, photo editors, and document processing software that rely on raw image format support.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of floating point operations within the kodak_radc_load_raw function where the code performs mathematical operations on corrupted or malformed data without proper exception handling. When dcraw encounters invalid floating point values in the Kodak RADC image header or pixel data, the processor generates a floating point exception that is not properly caught or managed by the application. This results in abrupt program termination rather than graceful error handling or data sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple file manipulation, requiring no sophisticated attack vectors or complex exploitation techniques. The flaw falls under the CWE-191 integer underflow/overflow category, though specifically manifests as floating point exception handling failure, which can be categorized under CWE-362 concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, specifically targeting application execution through malicious file manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-19568 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt critical workflows in environments that depend on automated image processing or batch operations. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause cascading failures in document management systems, digital asset management platforms, or any automated processing pipelines that utilize dcraw for image format conversion. The vulnerability affects not only end-user applications but also server-side image processing services, content management systems, and web applications that accept user-uploaded image files. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform denial of service attacks against systems processing image files, potentially causing service disruption for legitimate users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated processing occurs without proper input validation, as malicious files can be uploaded through web interfaces, email attachments, or file sharing systems, leading to unauthorized service disruption. Organizations using applications that incorporate dcraw without proper input sanitization or exception handling mechanisms face significant risk exposure, as a single malicious image file can compromise the entire processing pipeline. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper exception handling in image processing libraries and the need for robust input validation in applications that process external media files. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected software versions, implementation of proper input validation layers, and deployment of sandboxed processing environments to isolate potential exploitation attempts.