CVE-2024-22100 in DICOM Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2024
MicroDicom DICOM Viewer versions 2023.3 (Build 9342) and prior are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of DICOM Viewer. A user must open a malicious DCM file in order to exploit the vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2025
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22100 affects MicroDicom DICOM Viewer versions 2023.3 (Build 9342) and earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw that could enable remote code execution under specific conditions. This vulnerability resides within the DICOM file parsing functionality of the viewer application, where improper input validation and memory management practices create exploitable conditions that adversaries can leverage to compromise affected systems. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted DCM files, which are standard medical imaging file formats used for storing and transmitting medical images and associated data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of DICOM file structures, particularly within the memory allocation routines that handle the decompression and rendering of medical image data. When a user opens a specially crafted DCM file, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data segments, leading to a situation where data written to allocated memory buffers exceeds their intended capacity. This heap-based overflow creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program structures or injecting malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent attack vector within medical environments where DICOM viewers are commonly deployed. Healthcare organizations using affected versions of MicroDicom are at risk of unauthorized code execution when users open malicious medical imaging files, potentially compromising entire medical imaging networks and patient data integrity. The attack requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making social engineering components viable attack vectors, though the actual exploitation does not require network connectivity once the malicious file is presented to an unsuspecting user. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of medical imaging systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of critical healthcare services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-22100 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from the vendor, as this represents a critical vulnerability that requires urgent remediation. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies, including sandboxing of medical imaging files and restricting user access to potentially malicious file types. Network-based mitigations such as email filtering and web application firewalls can help prevent initial delivery of malicious DCM files. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious memory allocation patterns and file execution behaviors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in medical software development and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and security testing of medical imaging applications should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption issues that could lead to similar exploitation vectors.