CVE-2022-2058 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2022
Divide By Zero error in tiffcrop in libtiff 4.4.0 allows attackers to cause a denial-of-service via a crafted tiff file. For users that compile libtiff from sources, the fix is available with commit f3a5e010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2058 represents a critical divide-by-zero error within the tiffcrop utility component of libtiff version 4.4.0. This flaw specifically manifests when processing maliciously crafted tiff image files, creating a condition where the software attempts to perform division operations with zero as the divisor. The issue resides in the image processing pipeline of the tiffcrop utility which is designed to manipulate and crop tiff image files, making it a potential target for denial-of-service attacks through carefully constructed input data. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on libtiff for image processing operations, particularly those that may automatically process or validate user-uploaded tiff files without proper sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the tiffcrop utility's mathematical operations processing. When the utility encounters specific malformed tiff file structures, it fails to properly validate numerical values before executing division operations, leading to a runtime exception that causes the application to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with CWE-369, which categorizes divide-by-zero errors as a fundamental flaw in input validation and arithmetic operations. The flaw essentially creates a path where attacker-controlled data can influence program execution flow, causing the utility to crash and preventing legitimate image processing operations from completing successfully.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk for systems that process tiff images automatically or accept user uploads containing such files. The denial-of-service impact can be substantial for applications that depend on libtiff for image handling, potentially disrupting workflows in document management systems, digital asset management platforms, or any software that processes tiff image files. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating specially crafted tiff files that, when processed by tiffcrop, trigger the divide-by-zero condition and cause the utility to crash. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated image processing workflows exist, as it could be leveraged to repeatedly disrupt services or cause cascading failures in image processing pipelines. The issue affects both commercial and open-source systems that utilize libtiff as a core component for image handling operations, making it a widespread concern across multiple software ecosystems.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2022-2058 involves applying the patch provided in commit f3a5e010 which addresses the validation issue in libtiff 4.4.0. Organizations should prioritize updating their libtiff installations to versions that include this fix, particularly those running custom compiled versions of the library. System administrators should also implement input validation measures for any applications that process tiff files, ensuring that malformed inputs are rejected before reaching the tiffcrop utility. The fix demonstrates a proper defensive programming approach that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which addresses denial-of-service through input validation and error handling improvements. Additionally, implementing sandboxing mechanisms for image processing operations and employing automated monitoring for unexpected application terminations can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors that could leverage this vulnerability in broader system compromise scenarios.