CVE-2022-35455 in OTFCC
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2022
OTFCC v0.10.4 was discovered to contain a heap-buffer overflow via /release-x64/otfccdump+0x6b0d63.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35455 represents a critical heap-buffer overflow condition within the OTFCC software version 0.10.4. This issue manifests specifically within the /release-x64/otfccdump component at memory offset 0x6b0d63, indicating a memory corruption flaw that can potentially be exploited by malicious actors. The OTFCC (OpenType Font Compiler Collection) is a software tool designed for processing OpenType font files, making it an essential component in font rendering and compilation workflows across various operating systems and applications.
The heap-buffer overflow vulnerability arises from insufficient bounds checking when processing font data structures, particularly during the parsing of font files that contain malformed or specially crafted input. When the otfccdump utility encounters certain input patterns, it fails to validate the size of data being read into heap-allocated buffers, leading to memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in memory management operations. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the software's defensive programming practices, where the application does not adequately protect against buffer overflows that could be triggered by adversarial input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. An attacker who can successfully exploit this heap-buffer overflow could potentially execute malicious code within the context of the otfccdump process, which might lead to full system compromise depending on the execution environment. The vulnerability affects systems where OTFCC is installed and used for font processing, including development environments, font compilation systems, and any application that relies on OTFCC for OpenType font handling. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that font files are commonly encountered in web browsers, operating systems, and document processing applications, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable through various attack vectors including malicious website content or infected document files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-35455 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest available version of OTFCC where the heap-buffer overflow has been patched and properly addressed. Organizations should implement defensive programming measures including input validation, stack canaries, and address space layout randomization to reduce exploitability. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable software components and establish network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other font processing tools and related software components that may present analogous heap-buffer overflow risks.