CVE-2021-44044 in Drawings SDK
Summary
by MITRE • 12/06/2021
An out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists when reading a JPG file using Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK before 2022.11. The specific issue exists with parsing JPG files. Crafted data in a JPG (4 extraneous bytes before the marker 0xca) can trigger a write operation past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44044 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK version 2022.10 and earlier releases. This issue specifically manifests during the processing of jpeg image files, where the software fails to properly validate the structure of incoming jpeg data before attempting to parse it. The flaw occurs when the software encounters jpeg files containing malformed data with four extraneous bytes preceding the marker 0xca, which is a standard jpeg marker indicating the start of a comment segment. This particular configuration triggers a buffer overflow condition that allows memory operations to extend beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions, creating a potential exploitation vector for malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions that occur when a program writes to memory beyond the boundaries of a buffer. The flaw exploits the jpeg parsing logic within the Drawings SDK by manipulating the file structure to bypass normal validation checks. When the software attempts to process the malformed jpeg data, it calculates buffer sizes based on incorrect assumptions about the data structure, leading to memory corruption. The specific marker 0xca in jpeg format is used for comment segments, and the presence of four additional bytes before this marker creates an unexpected parsing scenario that the software cannot handle properly. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution when exploited.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations that rely on the Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK for processing or displaying jpeg images within their applications. Attackers can craft malicious jpeg files that, when opened or processed by vulnerable software, will trigger the buffer overflow condition and potentially allow remote code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application level, meaning that successful exploitation would enable an attacker to execute code within the security context of the running process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the SDK is used to process untrusted user input or files from external sources, as it could be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks or to establish persistent access to target systems.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation by upgrading to Open Design Alliance Drawings SDK version 2022.11 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file validation procedures before processing jpeg files, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and configuring applications to run with reduced privileges to limit potential damage from successful attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, with the potential for lateral movement if exploited in high-privilege contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, particularly for libraries that handle untrusted binary data formats such as image files.