CVE-2019-9210 in AdvanceCOMP
Summary
by MITRE
In AdvanceCOMP 2.1, png_compress in pngex.cc in advpng has an integer overflow upon encountering an invalid PNG size, which results in an attempted memcpy to write into a buffer that is too small. (There is also a heap-based buffer over-read.)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9210 affects AdvanceCOMP version 2.1, specifically within the png_compress function located in pngex.cc of the advpng utility. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper handling of invalid PNG file sizes during compression operations. The vulnerability manifests when the application encounters a malformed PNG image with an invalid dimension specification, leading to mathematical overflow conditions that compromise memory safety.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow condition that occurs during the processing of PNG file dimensions. When the png_compress function processes a PNG image with invalid size parameters, the integer arithmetic operations overflow beyond the maximum representable value for the data type being used. This overflow directly influences the calculation of buffer sizes required for memory operations, ultimately causing a memcpy operation to attempt writing data into a buffer that is insufficiently sized to accommodate the intended data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition, specifically manifesting as an integer overflow in a memory allocation context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates both heap-based buffer over-read conditions and memory corruption scenarios. The integer overflow leads to a situation where the application allocates a buffer that is too small to hold the compressed data, resulting in a memcpy operation that writes beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents or potentially execute arbitrary code through controlled input data. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the application's memory management and can lead to application crashes or unpredictable behavior during PNG compression operations.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily through the advpng utility's handling of user-provided PNG files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the utility processes untrusted input data. The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting malicious PNG files with intentionally invalid dimensions that trigger the integer overflow condition. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes exploitation of input validation flaws to cause memory corruption. The vulnerability also relates to T1068 which covers privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges or cause denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on input validation and proper integer overflow protection within the application's PNG processing pipeline. The recommended approach involves implementing bounds checking on all dimension values extracted from PNG headers before any arithmetic operations are performed. Additionally, the application should validate that calculated buffer sizes remain within reasonable limits and implement proper error handling for invalid input conditions. The fix should include explicit integer overflow detection mechanisms and ensure that all memory operations are performed with properly validated buffer sizes. Organizations should also implement proper software patch management procedures to ensure that all instances of AdvanceCOMP are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, as the flaw exists in the application's core memory management functions and cannot be effectively mitigated through runtime protections alone.