CVE-2023-0799 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
LibTIFF 4.4.0 has an out-of-bounds read in tiffcrop in tools/tiffcrop.c:3701, 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-2023-0799 affects LibTIFF version 4.4.0 and specifically targets the tiffcrop utility within the tools/tiffcrop.c source file at line 3701. This out-of-bounds read condition represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious TIFF files to trigger a denial-of-service scenario. The vulnerability resides in the image processing functionality of LibTIFF, which is widely used across various applications for handling TIFF image files, making this issue particularly concerning for systems that process untrusted image data.
The technical flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds memory read operation where the tiffcrop utility fails to properly validate input data from TIFF files before attempting to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that occur when a program reads data past the end of a buffer, potentially leading to crashes or information disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process TIFF files from untrusted sources, including web applications, image processing pipelines, and document management systems. Attackers can craft specially formatted TIFF files that, when processed by tiffcrop or applications that utilize the vulnerable LibTIFF library, will cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. This denial-of-service condition can be exploited to disrupt services, potentially leading to system downtime and affecting availability of critical image processing functionality. The impact extends beyond simple crashes as the out-of-bounds read could potentially expose sensitive memory contents or allow for more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The fix for this vulnerability is provided through commit afaabc3e which addresses the buffer validation issue in the tiffcrop utility. Organizations should prioritize updating their LibTIFF installations to version 4.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the out-of-bounds read condition. System administrators should also consider implementing input validation measures for TIFF files, particularly when processing files from external sources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers "Cloud Compute Infrastructure Injection" and related techniques involving input validation failures that can lead to service disruption. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in image processing libraries, as similar issues can potentially be exploited to gain further access to systems through more complex attack vectors. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions of LibTIFF and ensure that all instances of the library are updated to prevent exploitation.