CVE-2023-0796 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
LibTIFF 4.4.0 has an out-of-bounds read in tiffcrop in tools/tiffcrop.c:3592, allowing 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 afaabc3e.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0796 represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the LibTIFF library version 4.4.0, specifically affecting the tiffcrop utility located in tools/tiffcrop.c at line 3592. This flaw demonstrates a classic memory safety issue where the application fails to properly validate input data boundaries before accessing memory regions. The vulnerability occurs when processing specially crafted TIFF files that contain malformed data structures, causing the tiffcrop tool to attempt reading memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Such out-of-bounds memory access represents a fundamental security weakness that can lead to unpredictable application behavior and system instability. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the TIFF file parsing logic, where the application assumes certain data structures will conform to expected formats without proper boundary checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit system resources or disrupt service availability. When an attacker submits a crafted TIFF file to a system running the vulnerable tiffcrop utility, the out-of-bounds read can trigger segmentation faults, application crashes, or even arbitrary code execution in certain scenarios. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial-of-service attacks. The flaw affects systems that rely on LibTIFF for image processing operations, particularly those that process untrusted TIFF files through the tiffcrop utility, making it a significant concern for organizations managing image processing pipelines or content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0796 should prioritize immediate deployment of the official fix available through commit afaabc3e, which implements proper bounds checking and input validation for TIFF file processing. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as restricting access to the tiffcrop utility for untrusted users, deploying input sanitization layers before file processing, and establishing robust file validation procedures for TIFF content. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while maintaining regular patch management protocols to ensure all LibTIFF components remain up-to-date with security fixes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of memory safety practices in image processing libraries and underscores the necessity of comprehensive testing procedures for file format parsers to prevent similar issues in other software components. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect and prevent the execution of malformed TIFF files in production environments, as this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web applications, email attachments, and file sharing systems.