CVE-2021-40262 in FreeImage
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
A stack exhaustion issue was discovered in FreeImage before 1.18.0 via the Validate function in PluginRAW.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2023
The stack exhaustion vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-40262 affects the FreeImage library version 1.18.0 and earlier, specifically within the Validate function located in PluginRAW.cpp. This issue represents a critical security flaw that can lead to denial of service conditions when processing maliciously crafted image files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate stack space management during the validation process of raw image data, creating a scenario where recursive or deeply nested function calls can consume excessive stack memory resources.
The technical flaw manifests when the Validate function processes raw image data without proper stack depth limitations or iterative processing mechanisms. This allows an attacker to craft specially formatted raw image files that trigger deep recursion patterns or excessive memory consumption within the stack allocation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which describes allocation of resources without limits or with inadequate limits, specifically targeting stack memory exhaustion. When exploited, this condition can cause the application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively creating a denial of service scenario.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged in broader attack vectors within systems that utilize FreeImage for image processing. Applications using FreeImage for handling user-uploaded content, image conversion services, or any system processing raw image data become vulnerable to this attack. The exploitation typically requires an attacker to prepare a malicious raw image file that when processed by a vulnerable FreeImage version will trigger the stack exhaustion condition. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms where users can upload various image formats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-40262 primarily involve upgrading to FreeImage version 1.18.0 or later, which includes the necessary stack management fixes and validation improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing FreeImage are updated promptly. Additionally, input validation and sanitization measures should be enhanced to prevent processing of untrusted image files, particularly in web-facing applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management and the application of defensive programming techniques such as iterative processing instead of recursive approaches where possible. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory consumption patterns and stack usage anomalies. This vulnerability also highlights the need for adherence to ATT&CK framework concepts related to resource exhaustion and denial of service attacks, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in memory management to disrupt system operations. Organizations should consider implementing application sandboxing and memory limit enforcement to further reduce the risk of exploitation and ensure system stability even when vulnerabilities exist in third-party libraries.