CVE-2018-7554 in sam2p
Summary
by MITRE
There is an invalid free in ReadImage in input-bmp.ci that leads to a Segmentation fault in sam2p 0.49.4. A crafted input will lead to a denial of service or possibly unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7554 represents a critical memory management flaw within the sam2p 0.49.4 software package, specifically within the ReadImage function located in the input-bmp.ci module. This issue manifests as an invalid free operation that occurs during the processing of bitmap image files, creating a dangerous condition where the program attempts to free memory that has either already been freed or was never allocated through the standard memory allocation mechanisms. The flaw exists in the bitmap input handling subsystem, which is responsible for parsing and interpreting bmp file formats for conversion purposes within the sam2p utility framework.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves a malformed bitmap input file that triggers the invalid free operation when the ReadImage function processes specific header values or pixel data structures. When the program encounters such crafted input, it follows a code path that leads to attempting to free memory that has already been deallocated or is improperly managed, resulting in a segmentation fault that terminates the application. This memory corruption condition stems from improper memory management practices where the software does not properly validate the state of memory pointers before attempting deallocation operations, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can craft specific input files to trigger the flaw.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the segmentation fault represents a fundamental stability issue that can potentially be exploited to achieve more severe consequences. While the primary effect manifests as a crash that prevents legitimate users from processing bitmap images through the sam2p utility, the underlying memory corruption could theoretically be leveraged to execute arbitrary code under certain conditions, particularly if the application is running with elevated privileges or in environments where such memory corruption can be manipulated for code execution. The vulnerability affects all versions of sam2p 0.49.4 and potentially earlier versions that contain similar memory management flaws, making it a widespread concern for users who rely on this bitmap conversion tool for image processing tasks.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-415 which addresses double free conditions and CWE-416 which covers use after free errors, both of which represent common and dangerous memory safety issues in software applications. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the use of system services and command execution, as the denial of service could be leveraged to disrupt system services that depend on sam2p functionality. Organizations using sam2p for image processing, particularly in automated workflows or server environments, should consider this vulnerability as a potential attack vector that could be used to disrupt services or gain unauthorized access to systems. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices that are commonly found in legacy software systems and highlights the importance of proper memory safety measures in image processing libraries and utilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7554 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that contain patched memory management routines and input validation controls. System administrators should implement strict input validation measures that filter or reject malformed bitmap files before they reach the vulnerable ReadImage function, particularly in environments where the software processes untrusted input from external sources. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems that monitor for abnormal memory access patterns or segmentation fault occurrences can help detect exploitation attempts. The fix should include comprehensive memory state checking before any free operations, proper handling of allocated memory blocks, and thorough input sanitization routines that validate bitmap file headers and data structures against expected formats. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing or containerization for sam2p usage to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent similar memory management flaws from emerging in other components of their software ecosystems.