CVE-2019-19005 in AutoTrace
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2021
A bitmap double free in main.c in autotrace 0.31.1 allows attackers to cause an unspecified impact via a malformed bitmap image. This may occur after the use-after-free in CVE-2017-9182.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19005 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the autotrace software version 0.31.1, specifically manifesting in the main.c source file. This double free vulnerability occurs when processing malformed bitmap images, creating a scenario where the application attempts to release the same memory block twice, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise. The flaw is particularly concerning as it builds upon a previously identified use-after-free vulnerability documented in CVE-2017-9182, indicating a persistent memory management weakness within the software's image processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the autotrace application's bitmap handling routines. When a malformed bitmap image is processed, the software's memory allocator receives multiple free operations on the same memory address, causing the heap metadata to become corrupted. This double free condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based memory corruption issue aligns with CWE-415, which specifically addresses double free conditions in memory management. The attack vector requires the delivery of a specially crafted bitmap file that triggers the vulnerable code path during image processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-19005 extends beyond simple application crashes, as the double free condition can be exploited to achieve remote code execution or denial of service attacks. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the heap structure and potentially overwrite critical memory regions, leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the autotrace application. The vulnerability's exploitation may also result in information disclosure or system stability issues, depending on the specific memory layout and system configuration. This flaw particularly affects systems that process untrusted bitmap images through autotrace, including web applications, document processing systems, and digital asset management platforms that utilize this software for image conversion tasks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-19005 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that have addressed this memory management issue. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures for all bitmap image processing workflows, including the deployment of sandboxed execution environments for image conversion tasks. The vulnerability's relationship to the earlier CVE-2017-9182 indicates that the software's memory management requires comprehensive review and remediation. Security controls should include network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for suspicious file processing activities. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and mandatory code review processes for memory management operations can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for execution and T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for both defensive and detection capabilities.