CVE-2020-22524 in FreeImage
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in FreeImage_Load function in FreeImage Library 3.19.0(r1828) allows attackers to cuase a denial of service via crafted PFM file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2025
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-22524 resides within the FreeImage library version 3.19.0(r1828) and specifically affects the FreeImage_Load function when processing crafted PFM image files. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to trigger a denial of service condition, potentially compromising the stability and availability of applications that rely on the FreeImage library for image processing tasks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the library's handling of PFM file formats, which are Portable Float Map format files commonly used for storing high dynamic range images.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the FreeImage_Load function processes malformed PFM files that contain oversized or malformed headers, leading to memory corruption during the image parsing process. The vulnerability manifests as an unchecked buffer copy operation where the library attempts to load image data into a pre-allocated buffer without proper bounds checking against the actual data size specified in the PFM file header. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient checks allow data to be written beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers. The specific nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by simply loading a maliciously crafted PFM file, requiring no additional user interaction or complex exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-22524 extends beyond simple denial of service, as applications utilizing the FreeImage library become vulnerable to crashes, system instability, and potential remote code execution depending on the application's memory management and error handling mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by constructing specially crafted PFM files that contain malicious header values, causing the library to allocate insufficient memory for image data processing. The vulnerability affects a wide range of software applications that depend on FreeImage for image handling, including graphic design tools, image viewers, content management systems, and multimedia applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, and T1595.001 which involves reconnaissance through network scanning and information gathering that could lead to exploitation of such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-22524 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FreeImage library versions to the latest stable releases that contain memory safety improvements and proper bounds checking. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of applications that process user-uploaded image files, particularly in web-facing applications where PFM files could be uploaded as part of user content. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization mechanisms at application level can provide defense-in-depth protection, ensuring that even if the underlying library is not patched, applications can detect and reject malformed PFM files before they reach the vulnerable FreeImage_Load function. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to contain potential exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual application behavior or crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures including fuzzing and static analysis to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other image processing components.