CVE-2022-0545 in Blender
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
An integer overflow in the processing of loaded 2D images leads to a write-what-where vulnerability and an out-of-bounds read vulnerability, allowing an attacker to leak sensitive information or achieve code execution in the context of the Blender process when a specially crafted image file is loaded. This flaw affects Blender versions prior to 2.83.19, 2.93.8 and 3.1.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0545 represents a critical security flaw within the Blender 3D creation suite that stems from improper handling of image file processing. This integer overflow occurs during the parsing of 2D image data structures, creating a cascade of potential security implications that extend far beyond simple data corruption. The flaw specifically manifests when Blender attempts to load maliciously crafted image files, transforming what should be a routine file processing operation into a potential attack vector for arbitrary code execution or information disclosure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of image dimensions and memory allocation calculations within Blender's image loading subsystem. When processing image metadata, the application fails to properly check for integer overflow conditions that can occur when large dimension values are parsed from the image file headers. This oversight creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the image file structure to cause arithmetic overflow in memory allocation calculations, resulting in a write-what-where condition that allows precise memory corruption. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-190 as an integer overflow, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for process injection and T1566 for spearphishing attachments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to multiple Blender release lines, affecting versions prior to 2.83.19, 2.93.8, and 3.1, making it a widespread concern across the Blender user base. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to achieve code execution within the context of the Blender process, potentially allowing for full system compromise if the application runs with elevated privileges. The out-of-bounds read component further compounds the threat by enabling information leakage that can reveal memory contents, potentially exposing sensitive data such as stack canaries, heap metadata, or other process memory structures. This information disclosure capability significantly weakens the security posture and can be leveraged to bypass security mitigations like stack canaries or address space layout randomization.
The exploitability of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given Blender's widespread use in creative industries, where users frequently open files from untrusted sources. Attackers can craft specially formatted image files that trigger the integer overflow during normal application usage, making this a prime candidate for social engineering attacks where users unknowingly execute malicious code through legitimate software operations. The write-what-where condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate critical program variables, function pointers, or return addresses, enabling sophisticated exploitation techniques. Organizations using Blender for professional work may find their systems at risk when opening files shared through email attachments, collaborative platforms, or third-party asset repositories, as these scenarios provide ideal attack vectors for leveraging the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to the affected Blender versions, as well as implementing additional security measures such as restricting file access permissions and using application whitelisting to control which image formats can be processed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow checking in multimedia processing libraries, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of file format parsers. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations and establishing secure file handling protocols that include automated virus scanning and content validation before allowing image files to be processed by applications like Blender.