CVE-2022-36149 in tifig
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2022
tifig v0.2.2 was discovered to contain a heap-use-after-free via temInfoEntry().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36149 resides within the tifig library version 0.2.2, specifically manifesting in the temInfoEntry() function where a heap-use-after-free condition occurs. This type of vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation by malicious actors. The heap-use-after-free flaw arises when a program continues to access memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The tifig library, designed for handling image file operations, becomes susceptible to this vulnerability during the processing of image metadata information through the temInfoEntry() function.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the library's internal handling of image information structures. When the temInfoEntry() function processes image metadata, it likely allocates memory for temporary storage of information entries and subsequently frees this memory upon completion of processing. However, a flaw exists in the memory deallocation logic or reference tracking mechanism that allows subsequent access to this freed memory region. This condition typically occurs when the program maintains references to freed memory locations or fails to properly invalidate pointers after memory deallocation, creating a window where the freed heap memory can be accessed and potentially overwritten.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-36149 extends beyond simple application crashes, as heap-use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous due to their potential for exploitation in memory corruption attacks. An attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, escalate privileges, or cause system instability through denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects any application or system that utilizes tifig version 0.2.2 for image processing, particularly those handling untrusted image files from external sources. This includes web applications, image processing services, and any software that integrates the affected library, making the impact widespread across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to a patched version of the tifig library where the heap-use-after-free issue has been resolved. System administrators and developers should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing the affected library version and implement patch management procedures to ensure timely updates. Additional protective measures include implementing memory safety checks, using address sanitizers during development, and employing secure coding practices that prevent improper memory management. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which categorizes use-after-free conditions as a fundamental memory safety issue, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreters, particularly if exploited in web-based attack scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as heap metadata protection and stack canaries to reduce the exploitation surface of such memory corruption vulnerabilities.