CVE-2023-47997 in FreeImage
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2024
An issue discovered in BitmapAccess.cpp::FreeImage_AllocateBitmap in FreeImage 3.18.0 leads to an infinite loop and allows attackers to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47997 resides within the FreeImage library version 3.18.0, specifically in the BitmapAccess.cpp file at the FreeImage_AllocateBitmap function. This issue represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that stems from improper input validation and loop control mechanisms within the bitmap allocation process. The flaw manifests when the library processes malformed or specially crafted bitmap data structures that trigger an infinite loop during memory allocation operations.
FreeImage is a widely-used open-source library for handling various bitmap image formats across multiple platforms and applications. The vulnerability occurs during the bitmap allocation phase where the library fails to properly validate the dimensions and memory requirements specified in the input image data. When processing certain malformed input parameters, the allocation function enters a loop that lacks proper termination conditions, causing the application to hang indefinitely and consume excessive CPU resources. This behavior directly violates the principle of bounded execution time and can be exploited by malicious actors to perform resource exhaustion attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-47997 extends beyond simple denial of service as it can affect any application that relies on FreeImage for image processing, including web servers, image editing software, and multimedia applications. Attackers can craft specially formatted image files that when processed by vulnerable applications will trigger the infinite loop, causing the target system to become unresponsive and potentially leading to system crashes or resource starvation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops or iterations without proper exit conditions, making it particularly dangerous in server environments where continuous availability is critical. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected FreeImage versions to the latest stable releases that contain the fixed allocation logic. Organizations should implement input validation measures at the application level to sanitize image data before processing and consider implementing timeout mechanisms for image processing operations. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems that can identify abnormal resource consumption patterns may help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review their application dependencies to identify all systems using vulnerable FreeImage versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper loop termination conditions in memory management operations, particularly in libraries that handle untrusted data from external sources.