CVE-2019-5092 in LEADTOOLS
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap out of bounds write vulnerability exists in the UI tag parsing functionality of the DICOM image format of LEADTOOLS 20.0.2019.3.15. A specially crafted DICOM image can cause an offset beyond the bounds of a heap allocation to be written, potentially resulting in code execution. An attacker can specially craft a DICOM image to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5092 represents a critical heap out of bounds write flaw within the LEADTOOLS software library version 20.0.2019.3.15, specifically affecting the DICOM image format parsing functionality. This issue resides in the user interface tag parsing component where the software processes medical imaging data files that follow the DICOM standard. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of structured data elements within DICOM files, creating a scenario where memory operations exceed allocated heap buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted DICOM image file is processed by the vulnerable LEADTOOLS library. During the parsing of UI tags within the DICOM structure, the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before writing data to memory locations. This allows an attacker to manipulate the parsing logic such that a write operation occurs at an address beyond the intended heap allocation, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow that can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the application processing the DICOM file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across healthcare and medical imaging environments where LEADTOOLS is deployed for DICOM file processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by preparing specially crafted DICOM images that, when opened or processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the out of bounds write condition. This creates a potential pathway for remote code execution attacks, allowing threat actors to gain control over systems handling medical imaging data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in healthcare settings where DICOM files are frequently exchanged between different systems and applications, increasing the attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5092 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest version of LEADTOOLS where the heap buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and memory validation. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all DICOM files processed by affected systems, including the deployment of sandboxed environments for handling untrusted medical imaging data. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable applications to untrusted DICOM sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script injection, highlighting the potential for privilege escalation and persistent access through successful exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior during DICOM file processing, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific heap corruption vulnerability.