CVE-2022-1907 in libmobi
Summary
by MITRE • 05/27/2022
Buffer Over-read in GitHub repository bfabiszewski/libmobi prior to 0.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1907 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the libmobi library version 0.10 and earlier, affecting the broader ecosystem of applications that rely on this open-source library for processing mobi format documents. This library serves as a crucial component in various software implementations designed to handle mobi e-book files, which are commonly used in digital publishing and reading applications. The buffer over-read condition occurs when the library processes malformed or specially crafted mobi files that contain insufficient data or improperly structured headers, leading to memory access violations that can compromise system stability and potentially enable exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the memory allocation and data processing routines of the libmobi library. When parsing mobi file headers and metadata, the library fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data segments before attempting to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. This flaw specifically manifests in the handling of document header fields that specify the size of subsequent data blocks, where the library performs a read operation without verifying that sufficient data exists in the input stream. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which is a well-documented weakness in memory safety that frequently leads to denial-of-service conditions and potential code execution in vulnerable environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to applications that integrate the libmobi library, particularly those handling untrusted user input or third-party content. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote code execution in scenarios where the vulnerable library is used in server-side applications or web services processing mobi documents. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious mobi files that trigger the buffer over-read condition, potentially leading to system instability, data corruption, or even arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation context and memory layout. The vulnerability affects not only individual applications but also entire software ecosystems that depend on this library, making it a critical concern for maintainers and users of mobi processing software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1907 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 0.11 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer over-read condition. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications and services that utilize libmobi, particularly those handling user-uploaded content or processing external documents. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures at application layers can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider employing runtime monitoring tools and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 as a form of application layer exploitation, and its remediation should be prioritized according to the CVSS scoring system that typically assigns high severity ratings due to the potential for remote code execution. Regular security audits and dependency checks should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other third-party libraries and maintain overall software security posture.