CVE-2018-5810 in LibRaw
Summary
by MITRE
An error within the "rollei_load_raw()" function (internal/dcraw_common.cpp) in LibRaw versions prior to 0.18.9 can be exploited to cause a heap-based buffer overflow and subsequently cause a crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5810 resides within the LibRaw library, a widely used open-source software component for processing raw image files from digital cameras and other imaging devices. This library serves as a critical dependency for numerous image processing applications, photo editors, and digital asset management systems across the industry. The flaw manifests specifically within the rollei_load_raw() function located in the internal/dcraw_common.cpp source file, which handles the parsing and interpretation of raw image data from Rollei camera models. The vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data lengths before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the rollei_load_raw() function where the software attempts to read raw image data from Rollei camera files without sufficient validation of the incoming data structure. When processing malformed or specially crafted raw image files, the function allocates memory buffers based on assumptions about the data format that may not hold true for all input scenarios. This leads to a situation where the program attempts to write more data into a heap-allocated buffer than its allocated size, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing phase when the software encounters unexpected data patterns in the raw file header or metadata sections, causing the execution flow to become unpredictable and potentially leading to application crashes or more severe system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5810 extends beyond simple application instability, as it represents a potential vector for denial-of-service attacks against systems that rely on LibRaw for image processing operations. Attackers could craft malicious raw image files designed to trigger this buffer overflow condition, causing affected applications to crash and terminate unexpectedly. This vulnerability particularly affects image processing pipelines in photo editing software, digital asset management systems, and camera firmware applications that utilize LibRaw as their underlying image processing engine. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a common class of memory safety issues that have plagued software systems for decades. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it could potentially be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to achieve more sophisticated exploitation outcomes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5810 primarily focus on upgrading to LibRaw version 0.18.9 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the rollei_load_raw() function. System administrators and software vendors should prioritize patching affected applications that depend on LibRaw, particularly those handling untrusted image files from external sources. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation at application layers that consume LibRaw functionality, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations, and establishing robust monitoring for unusual application termination patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software dependencies and implementing comprehensive memory safety practices in image processing and multimedia applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect the presence of vulnerable LibRaw versions in their software environments and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.