CVE-2018-3922 in PhotoLine
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption vulnerability exists in the ANI-parsing functionality of Computerinsel Photoline 20.54. A specially crafted ANI image processed via the application can lead to a stack overflow, overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver an ANI image to trigger this vulnerability and gain code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3922 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the ANI file parsing component of Computerinsel Photoline version 20.54. This issue manifests as a stack overflow condition that occurs when the application processes specially crafted ANI image files. The vulnerability resides in the application's handling of animation cursor files, which are commonly used for creating animated cursor graphics in Windows environments. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious ANI file that, when opened by the vulnerable Photoline application, triggers the stack overflow condition. During normal operation, the application parses ANI files to extract animation frame data and metadata, but the parsing routine fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data. This insufficient input validation creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the parsing process and overwrite critical stack memory regions. The stack overflow can potentially overwrite return addresses, saved registers, and local variables, providing an attacker with the ability to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of Photoline 20.54 as it enables remote code execution through simple file delivery mechanisms. The attack vector requires only that a user opens a maliciously crafted ANI file, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and could potentially lead to full system compromise if the application runs with elevated permissions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it involves using a file-based attack vector to execute malicious code on a target system. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of a buffer overflow exploit that can be chained with other techniques to achieve privilege escalation or persistence within a target environment. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used image processing application increases its potential impact across multiple threat vectors including social engineering campaigns, drive-by downloads, and targeted attacks against creative professionals who regularly handle image files.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Photoline version, as the vendor has likely released a security update addressing this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies for ANI files, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. Network-based controls such as file type filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability's nature suggests that input sanitization and bounds checking improvements in the ANI parser would provide effective long-term remediation. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file processing activities and anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.