CVE-2022-22844 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2022
LibTIFF 4.3.0 has an out-of-bounds read in _TIFFmemcpy in tif_unix.c in certain situations involving a custom tag and 0x0200 as the second word of the DE field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22844 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the LibTIFF library version 4.3.0, specifically manifesting in the _TIFFmemcpy function located in the tif_unix.c source file. This issue arises under specific conditions involving custom tag processing and particular byte sequence patterns within the TIFF file format's data structures. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental memory safety issue that can potentially lead to system instability, information disclosure, or even remote code execution depending on the exploitation context. The flaw occurs when the library processes TIFF files containing custom tags with a specific second word value of 0x0200 within the DE (Directory Entry) field, creating a scenario where memory access exceeds valid bounds.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory boundary checking within the TIFF file parsing logic. When LibTIFF encounters a custom tag structure with the specified 0x0200 second word pattern, the _TIFFmemcpy function fails to properly validate the memory copy operations, leading to unauthorized memory access beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 out-of-bounds read classification, which is categorized as a memory safety issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the application attempts to read memory locations that are not properly allocated or accessible, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions or causing application crashes through memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-22844 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can be leveraged by attackers to extract confidential information from memory segments or potentially trigger more severe exploitation vectors. Systems utilizing LibTIFF for image processing, particularly those handling untrusted TIFF file inputs from external sources, face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability affects applications across multiple domains including web servers processing image uploads, desktop applications handling image files, and mobile applications incorporating TIFF format support. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious TIFF files that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, potentially leading to information disclosure through memory dumping or system compromise through subsequent exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given the widespread use of TIFF format in professional imaging workflows and its integration within numerous software applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-22844 should prioritize immediate patching of affected LibTIFF installations to version 4.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to address the memory boundary validation issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures for all TIFF file processing activities, including mandatory file format validation and size checking before processing. Network-based mitigations can include implementing strict file type filtering at ingress points, particularly for web applications accepting image uploads, and deploying sandboxing mechanisms for TIFF file analysis. The ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for process injection and T1557.001 for remote file execution could be relevant in exploitation scenarios, though the primary concern remains the memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous memory access patterns and unexpected application crashes during image processing operations, with enhanced logging of file validation activities to identify potential exploitation attempts.