CVE-2023-0804 in LibTIFF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
LibTIFF 4.4.0 has an out-of-bounds write in tiffcrop in tools/tiffcrop.c:3609, 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 33aee127.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0804 affects LibTIFF version 4.4.0 and specifically targets the tiffcrop utility within the tools/tiffcrop.c source file at line 3609. This out-of-bounds write flaw represents a critical memory safety issue that can be exploited by malicious actors through the careful crafting of TIFF image files. The vulnerability exists in the image processing pipeline where the tiffcrop tool processes and manipulates TIFF format images, making it a potential vector for denial-of-service attacks that can disrupt legitimate system operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the tiffcrop utility's memory management routines. When processing specially constructed TIFF files, the application fails to validate array access boundaries, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer. This particular flaw manifests at line 3609 in the source code where memory operations occur without adequate validation of input parameters. The out-of-bounds write condition can potentially lead to memory corruption that may cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, resulting in service disruption for legitimate users who rely on the tiffcrop functionality for image processing tasks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize LibTIFF for image processing workflows, particularly in environments where automated processing of user-uploaded TIFF files occurs. The denial-of-service impact means that attackers can intentionally disrupt services by submitting malicious TIFF files that trigger the memory corruption. This vulnerability affects not only direct users of the tiffcrop utility but also systems that depend on LibTIFF as a library component for TIFF image handling. The exploitability of this flaw is relatively straightforward since it only requires crafting a specific TIFF file rather than complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted image files are processed automatically.
The fix for CVE-2023-0804 has been implemented through commit 33aee127 which addresses the bounds checking issue in the affected source file. This patch ensures that proper validation occurs before memory operations are performed, preventing the out-of-bounds write condition. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched version of LibTIFF to mitigate this vulnerability. The fix aligns with security best practices for preventing memory safety issues and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in image processing libraries. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as input sanitization and file type validation for TIFF files to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write which is a well-known weakness in software security that frequently appears in image processing and multimedia applications. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499.004 sub-technique for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how improper memory management in library components can create widespread security implications for systems that depend on these libraries for core functionality. The remediation approach taken through source code patching follows industry standards for addressing memory safety issues in open source software components.