CVE-2023-35002 in ImageGear
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2023
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the pictwread functionality of Accusoft ImageGear 20.1. A specially crafted malformed file can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2025
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35002 resides within the pictwread functionality of Accusoft ImageGear 20.1 software, representing a critical security flaw that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of image file formats processed by the ImageGear library, which is commonly used for image processing and manipulation tasks across various applications. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to read and process malformed image files that exceed expected buffer boundaries during the pictwread operation. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which occurs when data is written beyond the allocated heap memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and allowing attackers to overwrite critical program data or execution control structures. The attack vector requires an attacker to craft a specially designed malicious image file that, when processed by the vulnerable ImageGear library, triggers the buffer overflow condition. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage for code execution. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation can enable full system compromise through arbitrary code execution. When an attacker successfully triggers the overflow, they can manipulate the program flow by overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures stored in the heap memory. The heap memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including crashes, data corruption, or more seriously, the ability for attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the ImageGear library is used to process untrusted image files from external sources, such as web applications, email attachments, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability affects systems running Accusoft ImageGear 20.1 and potentially earlier versions that may contain similar implementation flaws in the pictwread functionality. Organizations using this library for image processing operations should consider the potential for remote code execution attacks, especially in scenarios where users can upload or process images from untrusted sources. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malicious payloads, making it a high-priority issue for security teams to address immediately. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that memory corruption occurs in dynamically allocated heap memory rather than stack memory, making detection and exploitation more complex but potentially more dangerous due to the unpredictable nature of heap memory layout. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insufficient bounds checking in image file parsing operations, where the software fails to validate the size and structure of incoming image data before attempting to process it. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in image processing libraries because images often contain complex structures and metadata that can be manipulated to trigger memory corruption conditions. Security researchers have identified that the flaw exists in the memory allocation and data copying mechanisms within the pictwread function, where input validation is inadequate to prevent buffer overflows when processing malformed image files. The potential for remote code execution through this vulnerability means that attackers can leverage it in various attack scenarios including web-based attacks, file upload exploits, or social engineering campaigns targeting applications that utilize the vulnerable ImageGear library. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of Accusoft ImageGear, implementing input validation for image files, and deploying network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory management practices and the need for comprehensive security testing of image processing libraries, particularly in environments where they handle untrusted input data from multiple sources. This flaw represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Accusoft ImageGear for their image processing needs and requires urgent attention from security teams to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 emphasizes the fundamental nature of heap memory management issues that require careful attention to bounds checking and memory allocation practices to prevent exploitation.