CVE-2020-23898 in Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2021
A User Mode Write AV in Editor+0x5ea2 of WildBit Viewer v6.6 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) via a crafted tga file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-23898 represents a user mode write access violation within the WildBit Viewer v6.6 application that specifically occurs at offset 0x5ea2 in the Editor+0x5ea2 component. This flaw manifests when processing specially crafted tga image files, creating a potential denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability resides in the application's handling of texture graphics array file format parsing, where improper input validation leads to memory corruption during file processing operations.
This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a buffer overflow condition according to CWE-121, specifically involving heap-based buffer overflows that occur during the parsing of structured data formats. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly validate the boundaries of memory allocations when processing tga file headers and metadata, leading to a situation where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The write access violation occurs because the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, triggering an access violation exception that terminates the application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation phases. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability through a crafted tga file, the application crashes and terminates, preventing legitimate users from accessing the viewer functionality. However, in more advanced exploitation scenarios, this memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code, particularly if the application does not implement proper memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization. The vulnerability affects all users who process tga files through the affected viewer application, making it particularly concerning for environments where users might encounter untrusted image files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the WildBit Viewer application to version 6.7 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. System administrators should implement restrictive file handling policies that prevent users from processing untrusted tga files, particularly in enterprise environments where automated file processing might occur. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls and restricting file type associations for tga files can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in image processing applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for abnormal application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.