CVE-2021-38099 in PhotoPaint Standard
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2021
CDRRip.dll in Corel PhotoPaint Standard 2020 22.0.0.474 is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious CPT file. This is different from CVE-2021-38101.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38099 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the CDRRip.dll component of Corel PhotoPaint Standard 2020 version 22.0.0.474. This issue manifests when the application processes specially crafted CPT files that contain malformed data structures within the color management system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of color profile data, specifically within the Corel Digital Rip functionality that handles color reproduction in print workflows. The flaw operates at the memory management level where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, creating a condition that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write which is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a critical memory safety issue. The exploit requires a user interaction vector where victims must open a maliciously crafted CPT file, making this a client-side vulnerability that relies on social engineering or targeted attacks. The attacker must carefully construct a CPT file containing malformed color profile data that triggers the buffer overflow condition when PhotoPaint attempts to parse and render the color information. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution as it leverages application-specific parsing flaws to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user account. This means that if a victim opens the malicious file, the attacker gains the ability to install malware, modify system files, or exfiltrate sensitive data without requiring administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the application's color management system specifically, but the successful exploitation could potentially lead to broader system compromise depending on the execution context and user privileges. The fact that this requires user interaction makes it less likely to be exploited at scale, but still represents a significant risk in targeted attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38099 should include immediate patching of the Corel PhotoPaint application to the latest version that addresses this specific buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent users from opening untrusted CPT files, particularly those received through email attachments or downloaded from untrusted sources. Network-based protections such as email filtering and web content filtering can help prevent the delivery of malicious files to users. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the risks of opening unknown or untrusted files, especially those that may contain embedded color profiles or complex data structures. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of potentially vulnerable applications, and monitor for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in third-party libraries, suggesting that organizations should regularly audit their software dependencies for similar memory safety issues.