CVE-2022-40659 in NIS-Elements Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2022
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of NIKON NIS-Elements Viewer 1.2100.1483.0. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of TIF images. Crafted data in a TIF file can trigger a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-15214.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
This vulnerability in NIKON NIS-Elements Viewer 1.2100.1483.0 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that enables remote code execution through malicious TIF image files. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation during the parsing of TIF image format data, creating a condition where crafted TIF files can cause the application to write beyond the bounds of allocated memory buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and is classified as a memory safety error that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The exploitation requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious TIF file, making this a client-side attack vector that leverages social engineering tactics. When the vulnerable application processes a specially crafted TIF file, the buffer overflow occurs during the image parsing routine, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow and execute malicious code within the context of the currently running process, effectively giving attackers full control over the affected system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to users who may encounter malicious TIF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The NIS-Elements Viewer application, commonly used for microscopy image analysis, is frequently employed in research and medical environments where users may encounter untrusted image files from various sources. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means attackers can compromise systems without requiring local access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious files.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected application to address the buffer overflow in TIF parsing logic. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that scan and quarantine suspicious TIF files before processing, while also employing application whitelisting controls to restrict execution of unauthorized software. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help prevent users from accessing malicious content that may contain crafted TIF files. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted files and the importance of keeping software updated should be emphasized as part of comprehensive security awareness programs. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters, as the successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system.